If the naval auto resolve has been fixed (and we can only hope) then we should have a fighting chance. Presently, as it is on VH/VH, I keep literally 4 or 5 boats and do careful hops with armies. The rest of the time they stay in port... I don't have a chance at winning in autoresolve, against the hordes of barbarian fleets (or hordes of Romans.) The rebels often have pirate fleets larger than my own.

Too bad CBR can't talk...I'm hoping that transferring units by sea will require more boats... That would make navies important.