French 80-gun ships and the limits of design quality

How did French 80-gun ships compare with British 74- and 98-gun ships, and were they worth the cost?

They were good designs but offered little decisive advantage over a 74; France's larger problems were insufficient numbers, sea time, and experienced leadership.

An 80-gun ship added only a few pieces per broadside, often not the heaviest guns, so a well-handled 74 could fight it confidently. French naval architecture was not the central weakness. Repeated disruption of the officer corps and limited sea time kept good ships from being used effectively.