Seamanship: These characters are trained to help operate galleys and sailing ships. They can row, hang rigging, steer a helm, patch canvas, and repair hulls (with tar or pitch). This proficiency does not allow characters to navigate.

The captain of a vessel, who presumably possesses this skill at a high level, must make proficiency checks to avoid certain hazards of the sea. Such a seaman might take the ship into a reef-lined bay with no difficulty if a local pilot is there to act as a guide. But if the captain has to pick a path through coastal breakers, a failed check might mean a bump on the bottom of the hull, or that the ship has run aground. Bad weather and treacherous currents can penalize these proficiency checks, while fair breezes and superb visibility should convey positive modifiers.

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