First Rates should become rare and very expensive = maintenance, baby!

[Sir Bacon]

Why not remove the first and second rate ships and diversify the third rates into 64-74-80 gun ships?

The 1783-1801 British Navy ship list contains:

Third rates of 80 guns
Caesar
Foudroyant

Third rates of 74 guns (Large Class)
Mars
Centaur
Plantagenet
Courageux
Kent
Ajax
Bulwark
Revenge
Milford
Colossus
Warspite

Third rates of 74 guns (Middling Class)
Conqueror
Superb
Achilles
Northumberland
Renown
Spencer

Third rates of 74 guns (Common Class)
Brunswick
Dragon
Albion
Hero
Illustrious
Fame
Sceptre
Repulse
Eagle
Swiftsure
Invincible
Minden

Third rates of 64 guns
York
Ardent

Monmouth

Agincourt

Lancaster

Captured
 Pompee (France 80 guns)
Juste (France 80 guns)
Sans Pareil (France 80 guns)
Impetueux (France 78 guns)
Le Tigre (France 80 guns)
Belleisle (France 74 guns)
Overyssel (Netherlands 64 guns)
Zealand (Netherlands 64 guns)
Dordrecht (Netherlands 64 guns)
Prince Frederick (Netherlands 64 guns)
Admiral De Vries (Netherlands 68 guns)
Haarlem (Netherlands 64 guns)
Wassenar (Netherlands 64 guns)
L'Hercule (France 84 guns)
Canopus (France 80 guns)
Tonnant (France 80 guns)
Spartiate (France 80 guns)
Donegal (France 76 guns)
Leyden (Netherlands 68 guns)
Texel (Netherlands 64 guns)
Genereux (France 74 guns)
Malta (France 84 guns)
Athenienne (France 64 guns)
San Antonio (France, ex-Spain 74 guns)