@ HTP I left in 95, back then sea to shore ratio was around 2:1 in favour of sea time, this could vary due to manpower availability in the various trades, my last sea draft was 3 full years on the same ship, this included 3 deployments, the longest being just over 7 months, married men could fly wives out mid deployment if they wanted.
For me the worst aspect was 12 months sea time wasted in dry dock in Rosyth, deployments to warm places during UK winters was a good payback.