I have a rule in my campaign that if a PC dies they can only use a replacement from the ship. Especially if they are out at sea or in a small town which would not have a mid-high level PC just sitting waiting.
Obviously if the ship is in or nearby a large port or has just captured or plundered another ship they have the chance to have a PC remade at the level of the lost PC.
It has surprisingly kept my PCs from acting like lunatics because they don't want to drop to a low level crew member until the rest of the PCs decide to go into a port to find an suitable replacement.
I would suggest that if they want to continue to play ASAP, then tell them that the options are to play as crew members trying to get away from Tidewater Rock.
And there are ways to start the next part without having taken Tidewater Rock. It comes under attack by a pirate, why not just have the PCs ship come under attack instead.
Good luck.
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First off, this would never stand in my campaign. IMO Pathfinder is not a pvp-game, it is about a handful of PCs who have to cooperate to achieve their goals. So, if I was DM'ing this campaign, it would end here. I'd also have a hearty talk with my players about their idea of a good night of fun playing a tabletop rpg. If they like the game and play a PC they invested in, they might feel gutted by the fact their characters died, which is NOT a good night of fun at all.
Still, I feel you'd like to continue the campaign, despite the pvp. First I would sit down with my players and discuss the pvp aspect in your last session. This is only something I would allow if ALL players involved are in favor AND if you as a GM feel comfortable with it. If not, it is forbidden in future! Get with the program or get lost.
Then, how should you continue the campaign? Here's what I would do. I'd have the four players roll up new PCs and place them aboard Tessa Fairwind's vessel (the Luck of the Draw). This sloop-of-war attacks and captures the Man's Promise. Tessa places the four PCs and some other men and women in charge of the 'new' ship. The two remaining PCs (plus other survivors) are given the choice between joining the new crew or walking the plank. So, now you can pick up where you left off with one added bonus: your PCs are already close allies of Tessa Fairwind.
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Have the surviving players recruit the new PCs from a nearby port or town. Allow them some infamy/plunder time in that spot and then send them on a few random pillaging or ship combat encounters. This way, they can re-acquaint themselves with one another before then dealing with the Tidewater Rock situation as a party
Ha! who would've thunk pirates would turn on each other;)
the trick is to see how many times they can do this before the campaign ends and nobody sees each other for 20 years!
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I actually was going to suggest something very similar to mr. Vergee, minus the pvp part. If you like that sort of thing cool for you. Have their old ship taken by another ship and have part of them be from the new ship that won. If they insist on playing out the battle so be it, just make sure the new ship has a divine caster able to bring back the new charectors should they have unluckily fallen.
Well certainly NPCs from the ship could make the basis for new Characters. One of my PCs took over Rosie Cusswell with a little tweaking.
I don't like the idea of PVP but I also do think that rping characters like murder hobos, I mean heroic adventurers, there are times when certain lines are crossed.
Additionally their are now leaderless defenders in the Rock who may or may not have liked the status quo. Now this presents the problem of them betraying the defenders and how he gets introduced to the crew.
You could be really brutal and have Locke bring the Thresher in now for the kill. Perhaps there are prisoners in her brig that see the fight as an opportunity to jump ship and join the PCs.