Facepunch Studios has released the Shipshape update for Rust, extending daytime by 20 minutes and adding customization options for boats. The patch focuses on fixes and enhancements to boat building following the previous Naval update. Players can now rotate and demolish building blocks freely in edit mode.
The Shipshape update for Rust, developed by Facepunch Studios, arrived on March 7, 2026. It builds on last month's Naval update by introducing numerous improvements to player boats and boat building. Daytime in the game has been lengthened by approximately 20 minutes, pushing the total sunlight duration beyond one hour, while nighttime stays at about 10 minutes.
Key changes include the ability to rotate and demolish boat building blocks at any time during edit mode, eliminating the previous five-minute timer. Facepunch has resolved issues where sails were randomly destroyed during placement and removed the obstacle posed by small dive-site buoys that halted ships. Nearly all electrical, industrial, and water input/output items are now compatible with boats, except for auto turrets, SAM sites, windmills, CCTV cameras, and door controllers, which are restricted for gameplay balance.
Boats now allow deployable snapping for precise placement, similar to land structures, and support wallpaper application. To enhance naval combat, a stacking movement penalty applies when boats are hit by cannon fire, reducing speed to as low as 30% of maximum. Facepunch states, "We'll keep an eye on how this plays out, but our hope is that this leads to more interesting ship-to-ship combat as well, as some more boarding action." Additionally, ADS aim sway has been added while on moving boats to encourage cannon use over other weapons, though it permits some alternative firing options.
Sunk boats can now be dismantled block by block for easier looting. Boat decay mechanics have changed: the delay before decay starts is now 24 hours, doubled from before, but the decay period itself is shortened to 12 hours from 18. Players must provide direct steering wheel input to indicate active use and avoid decay penalties.
In the Deep Sea area, starting loot is reduced to 70% of prior levels but respawns gradually. Its appearance side is randomized, with a post-wipe delay and an audible notification upon availability. Network range there has increased from 300 to 620 meters, unlike the mainland due to higher player and enemy density, as Facepunch notes.
Static boat building stations are now on every Deep Sea island, featuring a magnet force to assist docking when ships are powered down. Naval scientists have been adjusted: they cannot see through smoke, shoot more accurately but with reduced damage, and employ flashlights and laser sights at night for better visibility. A bug fix ensures hazmat suits protect against naval scientists, with turret rebalancing deferred.
Server enhancements include optional TPM and Secure Boot requirements for anti-cheat, adding a 'Secure' tag; over 80% of players have TPM hardware, but under 60% enable Secure Boot. A new line tool for painting, activated by shift-click-dragging, aids precise artwork creation.
The update is now live, offering more tools for seafaring in Rust.
