A red-oak first rate would sit deeper and sail more slowly

How fast might a Nelson-era first rate sail if built from seasoned North American red oak?

A rough estimate is about 10 knots because the denser timber would make a Victory-sized hull heavier and deeper in the water.

Seasoned North American red oak could be used for a first-rate ship of the line, but its greater density would make the hull heavier. The live comparison puts dried red oak around 790 kilograms per cubic meter against roughly 675 for English oak. Across the volume of a Victory-sized hull, that difference would increase displacement and produce a deeper, more plunging profile. A rough estimate places the ship near 10 knots. The figure is an on-the-spot calculation rather than a detailed naval-architecture result.