A wooden boat is constructed primarily from wood, propelled by oars or paddles.

It encompasses ships where wood serves as the primary structural material for the hull and vessels where wood is the primary material, with only metal used to connect the boards.

Ships are a primary means of transportation on waterways, with the exact origins of seafaring vessels still debated. However, the use of boats and rafts for transportation, hunting, and fishing dates back to at least the Stone Age.

The evolution of ships began with hollowing out logs to create canoes, progressing through the eras of dugout canoes and plank boats. After the advent of the first steel ship in 1879, the dominance of steel vessels marked a new era in shipbuilding. Propulsion methods evolved from reliance on human, animal, and wind power in the 19th century to machine-driven engines.

The earliest forms of boats were likely simple logs that people attempted to float on water, leading to the development of shipbuilding techniques. Boats and rafts have been used by humans for transportation, hunting, and fishing since at least the Stone Age, with their history tracing back to prehistoric times.

A dugout canoe, the simplest form of boat made by hollowing out a log, evolved from rafts. Though this evolutionary process was gradual, it marked an essential step in the history of maritime technology.

Crafting a dugout canoe required more advanced production tools and techniques than rafts, laying the groundwork for more sophisticated shipbuilding methods. With the advent of the Bronze Age, humans improved their ability to process wood, leading to the use of planks in ship construction.

Plank boats could be more extensive and had better performance than dugout canoes. They consisted of planks joined or overlapped to form the hull, reinforced internally with bulkheads and ribs to increase strength and create compartments.

Early plank boats were bound with fibres or strips of hide between planks and between the planks and framework, later replaced by copper or iron nails. Gaps between planks were sealed with hemp, oil, or pitch to make them watertight. This era also saw the development and refinement of oars, paddles, and poles.

After centuries of navigating the seas, wooden ships endured the erosion caused by saltwater and marine organisms. Despite their weathered appearance, they remained resilient, boasting a rich history. After years of exposure to seawater, ship timber became more rigid and more durable, enhancing its natural properties such as waterproofing, fire resistance, and resistance to pests.

Artisans in ancient times selected the finest timber from pristine forests for shipbuilding, ensuring optimal strength, elasticity, and density. Coupled with skilled craftsmanship, this resulted in ships capable of withstanding centuries of wear and tear.

Today, crafting furniture from antique ship timber has become a classic art form. Furniture from ship timber utilizes high-quality wood, such as centuries-old oak, teak, rosewood, ironwood, or mahogany. Imported oak is commonly used due to its superior durability and resistance to wear compared to domestic wood.

The colour and texture of ship timber are inseparable; any colour applied to the material's surface will produce corresponding texture effects, and the appearance of texture will also accompany colour production. Ship timber retains its original yellowish hue, with rust stains from oxidized rivets penetrating the wood over time, forming natural and beautiful black patterns. The irregular holes left by rivets add to ship timber's rugged charm and artistic appeal.