WillieSea Have you tested using less reactors? Since only one side will be firing/taking damage the ship probably has way more power generation than it needs. The same applies to crew as well.
It is probably possible to add an additional cannon block to both ends and still cost less if the power and crew in each block was made less.
I find for a broadside ship to fight well the alpha strike from a side has to be really powerful, which means it needs a lot more guns per crew/power than normal.