The best recent introduction to this period is Jack Greene and Alessandro Massignani's Ironclads at War. Written for and by wargamers it is packed with just the sort of info you'll need. There isn't a dull page in it.
It follows a longer (two vol) and earlier book, Ironclads in Action, by H W Wilson. Tho published in 1895 this was popular in its time, so can be found in second-hand shops. I think it is also available free over the internet.
There was huge public interest in navies at this time and a lot of books published to satisfy it. The great advantage of these old books is that their writers weren't contaminated by knowledge of later wars. Ironclads are endlessly fascinating. You'll find that wargaming them knocks all other periods into a cocked hat. But it is hard for modern writers not to look at them through the wrong end of a telescope and apply lessons learnt in the Russo-Japanese and First World Wars. Because they were aimed at a wide public (rather than professionals) the language of these old books is clear and easily accessible. Favourites are William Laird Clowes' Four Modern Naval Campaigns (1902, but reprinted since) and G W Steevens' Naval Policy (1896). Brassey's Naval Annual (from 1882 and now free online) contains articles on ships, weapon systems and exercises, some of which translate easily on to the table.
Brassey also incs some plans showing armour schemes; and sometimes info on things like turning circles, which can be hard to find.
The best catalogue of ships of the era is Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860 – 1905 (edit Robert Gardiner). It is out of print and can be expensive, but is worth poking around for.
On the RN in particular, D K Brown's Warrior to Dreadnought can't be beat.
For the last forty or so years I've been writing a set of ironclad rules. They are not quite finished and I wd not recommend them to someone starting out, so I'll leave it to others to suggest rules. This period is so right for wargaming you can't really go wrong with it.
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