[quote=Jangel13]
I just don't get why it was so rare, honestly I remember that size wasn't always the issue but how the captain used their ships, with frigates or brig's a pirate could take down a gallon or frigate. If the hull could handle the strikes and dish out enough damage in the process they could steer circles around a fat gallon and a brig against a frigate wouldn't be so different
[/quote]

I think that pirates didn't use them often because they couldn't get a hold of a ship like that. It would either be too costly or dangerous.