For this,Pirates of the Carribean managed to put it off....The owner or Captain of the ship would pilot the ship while,other players can join the Captain on his vessel and take ownership of a gun where the player in control determines how its fired etc
For Naval Action,perhaps a Gun Deck officer(or wadeva its called),where the player joining the owner and captain of a vessel would be in charge of his own gun deck for either the left or right broadside(applicable to multi level SOL"S) and determine what is fired etc etc.Ability to repair guns and restore guns.
,something along that line,thus removing monotony as there is constantly something to do