by the way, the ships should be able to float.

 

but if somehow buoyancy becomes an issue,

 

the added metal plates can be thicker,

 

and ultimately made into a shell,

 

only to hollow out the wood from within,

 

by use of a burning technique, if need be.

 

 

but. thin aluminum sheets will be enough to

keep it floating without removal of the wood.

 

 

 

one can test that theory testing it on smaller models.