I need to get me some more Bondi, just bought a ship for 39 crew for 20k after accidently selling my first ship from Doccinga 
Do this (and only buy ASH ships as it will save you money in the short run, helping you make more money faster by getting more ships up sooner.. and don't waste points on Navigation!)
1. Get the Snekkja from Doccinga.
2. Sail with that until you have money to get a second.
3. When you have 10-15k saved up, sell both Snekkja' and move on to a Skeid. This will cut repair costs in half and is faster by 3 knots.. each Snekkja is 27 crew, Skeid is 55 (27 + 27 + 1)
4. Save up yet another 10-15k and sell the Skeid for a Busse.
5. Repeat 1-4 until you have 10 Busse' amassing 900 troops and conquer the world.
A few tips:
Assuming you probably joined Danmark, get a shop selling Linen in Ribe and in Northvegr's main town (starts with a T). That'll help float you with troop costs. King Horik also gives you a feif upon enlisting which covers the cost of a Refuge (great for storing troops - pay just below 1/3 regular wages).
BIG tip here, to save the heartache that is soon to come during the story. When so and so asks you to amass an army of 200+ men, put your own army inside your garrison at the Refuge (need to upgrade it once (or twice if you want the added bonus of a blacksmith and such)) then go hire 200 peasants and give the filthy bastard that.. then before the next segment of the quest line, go grab your 200 strong army of berserk vikings and tear that shithead apart!
