The more I play, the more I like Minoan and Hittite. Yams are great too, but I tend to have trouble with them in Iron (if there is an Iron).
Minoans can out econ most civs on boom maps (medit/conti), and have strong Bronze with Compie/ST combo and have HC's in IRON.
Hittites have the great war boats, and a mean CA/ST combo in Bronze. Iron is mainly HC's and Scythe with Ele's mixed in. HHA can be a fun option too. Hittite can do a Tool archer rush without much backfire, researching archer leather because you need it for your CA's.
I play these two the most these days and the Tool Navy war between the two comes down to who has more wood(=who boomed less). I see either civ beat each other on sea in Tool nightly on Zone.
Yams can beat both in Tool and Bronze on Sea, but unless you either Scout or Cavalry rush, you can have probs with Minoans or Hittites, especially if they still have FB's.
If my opponent is Yam, I pick Minoan. If they are Minoan I am Hittite. If they are Hittite I am Yam. Any other civ I play against I pick Hittite, unless Shang, then it is back to Yams. These picks are all for 1v1 huge conti all defaults with no reveal.