The poem sketches a small portrait of old men who live on islands and have stopped being amazed by the water around them. Ships, which might seem exciting or full of possibility, are things they "never discover." They glance at the sea for an hour at most, and then they turn to talk about saving money and the coming of winter ice.
The speaker doesn't say outright how they feel, but the tone is dry and observant, with a hint of gentle irony. The sea is everywhere in an islander's life, so it becomes ordinary, almost invisible. What matters to these men is practical: getting by, making things last, surviving the cold. Judging by the word "thrifty," their world is one of careful limits rather than adventure.
The mood is quiet, plain, and a little wistful. The short lines and lack of decoration mirror the men's habits: nothing wasted, nothing romantic. We're left wondering whether they're wise or simply closed off from wonder.