Hull form balanced speed, stability, and crew workload

Wooden-warship hulls became longer and fuller as builders learned to support length and channel water toward the rudder. Rudder design balanced steering control against the force required to move it. Broader, flatter central hull sections improved the gun platform, while the length-to-beam ratio still affected maneuverability and strategic speed. French designs tended toward narrower hulls and more precisely adjusted rigging, while British practice put greater weight on stability and handling by fewer sailors. Fewer, more securely fastened lines reduced the number of people needed to manage the British rig. A faster Atlantic crossing could lose its advantage if rough handling displaced gun carriages and demanded repairs on arrival. The fuller hulls of mature ships of the line combined wood's buoyancy with the volume needed to carry heavy armament through long voyages and rough seas.