Unlockable Steam Ship
     Collect 20 artifacts and talk to your wife.

Easy ships:
     Do  not  go  face-on to your enemies and attack slowly with small
ships.  Instead,  get a small ship and work on getting money. When you
are  getting  a very high income, buy a small killing ship. Attack who
you  can  hate  forever. Basically be English and attack the French or
the  Dutch.  When  the English like you, find a badly defended ship of
the  line  and  take  it.  Then make them fully happy again and repeat
until you have five ship of the lines.

Easy win:
     Start  by  using most of your money on ammunition cannons and get
the  most amount of sailors. Then, select "Leave Island". Sail and try
to  find  a  convoy  with  two ships. Make sure that they have a close
difference  of the amount of sailors. Use grape shots to take down the
sailors  and  board  the ship. You will win easily. Note: Do not fight
with less men.