Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-26890432-20170131222057/@comment-26890432-20170131234417

Also, I find Caravels to be a very logical choice for the average merchant. High bowfreeboard for defensibility/seaworthiness, a balanced rig of square and lateen sails, for a modest price and ease of construction. The Caravel is still considerable more advanced than the contemporary ships of Middle Earth, so I strongly believe Galleons would have been reserved for Warships, wealthy merchants, or nobility.