Building a boat in Rust, as introduced in the Naval Update, is more than simply stacking wood on water. The right ship becomes your own piece of the ocean, regardless of its size. Solo players can turn a simple ship into a home on water, while a crew can assemble a floating fortress. So, it’s time to get down to the dock and start building your ideal boat in Rust.

How to Build a Boat in Rust

First, it’s important to understand the limitations involved when building a boat in Rust. For starters, its maximum footprint is 5x10 and with two decks at most. It should also be built on either wood or sheet metal, at least at the time of writing. Place the boat’s engines on the vessel’s first floor and deployables on the second. Additionally, it’s possible to build, manage, and operate a small boat in Rust as a solo player. However, a larger ship generally demands an entire crew for efficient maritime operations. If so, consider banding together with allies within a Rust server, and dominate oceans with your seafaring crew. With that, don’t forget about the items required to build a boat in Rust, which you can find below:

Boat Building Requirements

Boat Building Plan

• How to Get: Craft using 20x Wood at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: A boat plan. You can use this to craft boats - right click when equipped for more options.
• How to Use: Press and hold Right-Click at the Boat Build Station to access the Boat Building Plan menu. Once accessed, place the necessary items to build the boat, assuming that you have the materials for them.

Boat Building Station

• How to Get: Craft using 200x Wood and 1x Tarp at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: A deployable building station, creates a stable workspace on the water to build or edit your floating wooden refuge.
• How to Use: Deploy the Boat Building Station in deep waters. You’ll know if it’s at the right place if it projects a blue hue and a construction grid. Redeploy the station if needed to enter edit mode for your boat.

Sail

• How to Get: Craft using 150x Wood and 1x Tarp at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: A slow but effective boat sail, made from scraps of fabric hastily stitched together. More sails will generate more speed.
• How to Use: A sail must be deployed in the direction of travel and never too close to another canvas. Combine sails with engines for faster, more efficient water travel.

Small Boat Engine

• How to Get: Craft using 50x Low Grade Fuel, 5x High Quality Metal, and 2x Gear at a Workbench Level 2
• Item Description: A punchy boat engine made from scavenged parts, not good for the environment. More engines means more speed.
• How to Use: The small boat engine must be deployed in the bottom deck. It requires Low-Grade Fuel, unlike a Sail that doesn’t require fuel.

Steering Wheel

• How to Get: Craft using 100x Wood at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: A lockable steering wheel for your modular boat with some suspiciously shaped handles.
• How to Use: Press “E” to mount the Steering Wheel. Then, press and hold “A” to bear left or “S” to bear right. Dismount the Steering Wheel by pressing the Spacebar.

Boat Building Accessories

Cannon

• How to Get: Craft using 100x Wood and 200x Metal Fragments at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: A heavy mountable cannon for your boat with a short fuse. Questionable accuracy but high damage.

Anchor

• How to Get: Craft using 250x Wood at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: A heavy anchor to stop your boat drifting.

Plank

• How to Get: Craft using 100x Wood at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: Crude boarding plank thrown together from ruined floorboards, watch out for splinters.

Small Ramp

• How to Get: Craft using 250x Wood and 2x Rope at a Workbench Level 1
• Item Description: Deployable wooden ramp cobbled together from recycled doors, probably sturdy enough. Unfolds for boarding enemy vessels.