time at sea?

Question

im in a debate about sailors spending time at sea, in the past. i understand a trip from Europe to America lasted 3 monts, under good conditions. what im wondering tho, is, for an average sailor in the navy, what would be considered the "average time spent at sea". more specific: this pertains to coastal defense and patrols.

and im talking about in the past, not present. like 1500s or so.

so the question is:
"What was the average time spent at sea for a sailor in the navy, on a ship patrolling for coastal defense?"

Answer 1

read "two years before the mast" by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.,

Pressed British seamen were kept at sea inhumanely long times. This was because the admiralty feared they'd desert if given the chance.

Answer 2

5 months or soo