Providing yard facilities was one thing, attracting the men to operate them was another. A basic problem was that the West Indies was an unpopular station, because of its health risks. Dockyard workers in England were well aware of the ravages caused by yellow fever, and there was an understandable reluctance to serve there. The problem was compounded by the scarcity of the necessary skilled workers among the white population of the islands, and the high civilian wages available outside the naval yards to those with the skills. Given these local circumstances the only feasible sources of labour remained the dockyards in England, despite the difficulty of persuading men to serve in the West Indies. The problem was one that ultimately the Admiralty and Navy Board had to solve, and as the number of ships serving in the Caribbean grew, then it had to be solved urgently. In the meantime, the commanders on the spot were left to improvise as best they could.

The range of work done, and the skills required, were considerable. An analysis of the dockyard pay lists shows that shipwrights, carpenters, caulkers, labourers, watchmen, smiths, house carpenters, pitch heaters, sailmakers, axemen, sawyers, brick layers, cabin keepers, boat builders, pump makers, and seamen were all employed in the Caribbean, as well as the necessary supervisory staff. The latter included the storekeeper/naval officer, the master shipwright, the master attendant, the boatswain of the yard, and the subordinate foremen and quartermen. The tasks carried out were equally varied, including as they did, the careening and repair of ships' hulls, the repair of sails, masts and rigging, and the construction and maintenance of yard facilities.