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A typical watch

Watches usually run six hours on and six off, around the clock. On watch you steer when the mate tells you, stand lookout, and keep the deck moving: handling lines when the boat makes up to a barge or comes alongside, chipping and painting rust, greasing winches, checking lashings. Meals are whenever your watch allows. Off watch you sleep in a bunk a few feet from a running engine, then get up and do it again.