Hi, I've answered this question before a couple of times:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3l1yf1/how_was_naval_warfare_fought_before_the_invention/

and

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3xuqs7/why_was_there_a_general_lack_of_naval_combat/

Please let me know if those answers are helpful, or you'd like to know more. Thanks!