William Kite series

I haven't read this series but it seems to be about a merchant captain starting at the time of the Seven Years War. Therefore they are probably not strictly within the genre but they could be an interesting read.

I've read this series of 3 books:

The Guineaman (2000)
The Privateersman (2000)
The East Indiaman (2001)

As one who claims Richard Woodman as his favorite author, I have to say this is my least favorite of his offerings. While there are ships and men who sail them and conflicts, they are centered in the business of merchant trade. While I found Woodman's characters well developed, the storyline was not one that I found enjoyable. I've read about the slave trade, the colonial fight for independence and merchant trade in the Indian Ocean, but they were blended into a greater storylines rather than its central focus as they are here.

They're in my library, but I doubt I'll read them again anytime soon.