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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ The fact that wood ships won't work would precisely be the reason for discovering metal cladding instead of trying to use not working wooden ship. Or more low tech animal skins spanned over a wood frame that is thus protected from the water. $\endgroup$
    – D.J. Klomp
    Commented Dec 1, 2020 at 12:46
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    $\begingroup$ "they never encounter the need for it" - we've explored the sky, space and the deep ocean, despite not having any need for that. If there's a way, someone will figure it out eventually, because that's what people do. Although it may be a believable enough explanation for fiction. $\endgroup$
    – NotThatGuy
    Commented Dec 1, 2020 at 13:03
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    $\begingroup$ @NotThatGuy Bad analogy. Rather mention not developing a 5-lever doorlock, for a civilization that does not use doors $\endgroup$
    – PcMan
    Commented Dec 1, 2020 at 14:21
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    $\begingroup$ Likely this would lead to earlier adoption of tarring hulls to preserve the wood. Once the utility of early rafts and dugouts is observed, there would be pressure to keep using disposable craft (you don't need it to last years if you can quickly make a replacement after your week's journey) and protect the wood or larger and more expensive craft. $\endgroup$
    – rek
    Commented Dec 1, 2020 at 14:43
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    $\begingroup$ Wood is not necessary for boats. At the low-tech end, there are things like the kayak and coracle that can be built from skin and bone. At a higher level, the US used concrete ships in both world wars, and there are ongoing concrete canoe competitions among the civil engineering departments of North American universities (and perhaps elsewhere?): asce.org/event/2021/concrete-canoe And of course these days you have fiberglass and other composites. $\endgroup$
    – jamesqf
    Commented Dec 1, 2020 at 17:00