Naval Strategy of Ship Deployment

[ICantSpellDawg]

I was wondering what the percentage of ships of the line (or other structures for other nations) who sailed solo was. Would most patrols be in small groups, or with ships by their lonesome during the 18th century? What was the reliance on ships outside of the line? Popular culture is quite familiar with convoys and the grandiose battles that they would get themselves into, but rerveals very little about the bulk of naval occupation during the period.

Any illumination is appreciated on this issue, I didn't know how to google this question effectively. Most of my historical knowledge of this period comes from movies, video game and Wikipedia to be honest.