I landscape the shore so I can sail a long boat directly into that little nook. Then I build a building around the nook which protects it from three sides. Necks usually stay away from the building after that.
Plus I have a really cool docking facility.

As for the pier idea I already have a work around for that. I raise the land up high enough to allow the boat to just fit under a wooden floor that I build over hanging that land. I slip the boat into the area and it fits nicely under the floor on both sides. A slight hop and your out onto the pier. To get back into the boat, I just walk off the pier and land directly into the boat.

I've found as long as I park my ship a little ways into the water It generally survives just fine. Sometimes minor damage but usually nothing that ever destroys it. Whether I'm using a pier or just a very short swim.

Originally posted by lordtheobald:

I would like it if we could build proper piers.

Me too, the closest thing I could come up with is a mole. I just built the pier on top of it. 😄

Dismantle your ship, mobs don't drown so they can swim forever, even if you wall off the shallow areas they can swim round and get to your boats, it'd be cool if there was a large gate we could use in the water for boats like a flood gate

I have a work bench on one side and built a "pier" on the other side of the area I park the ship and that seems to do well to keep mobs away. Actually, I would like it if we could build proper piers.

Put a lit standing torch near it. It will both add a 20m no spawn zone and necks are scared away by fire sources.

You can just place workbenches near your ship to block enemy spawns. Alternatively, jsut don't build a ship until you intend to use it.

you can break your ship and get all the materials back. Then just store all the stuff in a chest until you want to use your ship again