While it's true that service in Britain's navy was harsh, it was not nearly as bad as one might expect. The discipline was exceptionally light compared to what one might expect on shore and the ship's officers no worse than what one
might find peppered throughout any of today's modern navies. 

Commonly (though grudgingly) recognized by other European powers of the day as the best naval force afloat, the Royal Navy evoked fierce loyalty in the men who served within. They spent much time in scientific endeavours and were instrumental in bringing about the defeat of modern civilization's first true dictatorial government.

It has been said of the 18th century Royal Navy that any single British sailor was worth any three Frenchmen or any four Spaniards in battle. However, this was no mere propaganda slogan, a simple look at the casualty reports of any major battle seems to bear out the truth of the statement.

Official British, French and Spanish reports from the battle of Traflagar in 1805 (to use one example) show that for 4,408 French and Spanish sailors killed, the British fleet lost 449. 

Nor was this one isolated incident. With very few exceptions, the Royal Navy would seem to come out on top against odds that even a professional gambler would balk at.