The ships in the game cover a period from at least 1760 to 1815. Since there were a lot of technological advancements in that time period, I've been considering how to reflect them in play, especially during the period of introduction when not everybody had them.

Advances I've thought of are:
Coppered bottoms - ships without use a slower deck ~ 1780
Cure for Scurvy - reduce affected crew by a certain amount, starting at the top. ~ 1790
Carronades - equipped ships use the carronade rules ~ 1785
Heavy Frigates ~ 1810