Probably the earliest date you could get away with using SOG rules and ships is about 1650. You could easily do a "battle of Bantry Bay" circa 1689. The war of 1812 is the far limit on the other end of the spectrum. By 1850 it was all about steam power. The earliest ship Ares makes is the HMS Britannia (1762), a first rate, Royal George class ship of the line with 100 guns. The battle of Bantry Bay ships had sixth rate, 24 gun ships, through third rate 60 to 70 gun ships of the line and pretty much everything in between. The HMS Cambridge (1666), was a 70 gun third rate and was present at that battle. Those classes of ships are well represented by SOG ships. Anything earlier than that, and you're talking galleys, which means oar driven ships as David said previously.