Since boarding will never happen, I've come up with something else instead:
Dueling!
During a match, a captain can challenge a foe to a duel. If he accepts, the ships will dock with each other, become invincible, and the duel will start. The captains will fight with a pistol and their tools. If a captain dies, his ship is destroyed, and the winner's ship continues on it's way. The crew of the ships can assist their captains in the fight by throwing tools from the sidelines.
Cool idea? Post your reply!