Addendum

And if they have a thousand distinct terms like terrestrial conveyances do, all the better. Quick, which one's a brougham? That's an easier one, as you can tell because I remembered the name.

Fantasy Spaceships

Often they're based on sailing ships, but likening space to the oceans is a more recent thing. Fantasy spaceships should be reminiscent of chariots, wagons, and carriages.

The Godless City

To remind all men that fortune is never constant, a storm afflicted the victors of the great naval battle so that within an hour they might have wished to have lost it instead that retreat could save them. Of one ship tossed far and then low, sinking, an officer and a portion of his soldiers made the shore.
The officer declared it a miracle and vowed to give offerings to the god who preserved them, and if there was no shrine for the purpose already, he would have one made, and the same for a temple when his means permitted. He encouraged his men to join him in that. "Certainly, but what god is it?" they asked.
The plain and uninhabited shore gave no answer to that. Stymied, the officer led his men away from there and succeeded so well that not a single one of them died before seeing home or whatever other destination he liked.
That duty done, the officer turned to the other, and in furtherance of it he settled a colony where he washed up. It flourished, whereupon the founder attracted scholars and philosophers whom he tasked with determining the god in addition to their other studies.
It flourished still more and soon became prosperous enough that its founder had erected the grandest temple known, though he refused to have it consecrated before his rescuer was known. More than that, he forbade the building of any other temple within the city limits before then. The injunction is observed today. Therefore, stranger, to answer your question at last, your devotions must be done outside the walls.
Finis

Addendum

"Tidal fantasy" refers to how the tides have shifted in various ways, but there will definitely be giant whales that eat whole ships in it.

Some Science Fiction to Fantasy Conversions

Ship -> Spaceship
Deadly forest -> Asteroid belt
Dragon -> Evil corporation
Cleric -> Clerk
Magic sword -> Prototype
Intelligent talking familiar -> Robot buddy
Wizard -> Space wizard

Wonders of Cultural Exchange

An unusual sight is the usual in a port city, but the most jaded confessed to amazement when across the ocean traveled a man toward them, not piloting a ship, rowing a boat, or even walking over the waves as if they were hills. Had that been true they would have figured him for a god, a straightforward enough matter.
Instead he was standing sideways on the broad blade of a sword larger than surely he was capable of wielding, they thought, until he rode it up the beach, picked it up, and leaned it casually against his shoulder. "Where is this? I am come exploring from the east," he announced.
Everyone wondered the same thing. "Welcome, visitor, but why did you travel in such a strange way?"
"What? Is there a better one?"
They showed him their ships and taught him everything about sailing, carpentry, and nautical engineering. The stranger learned so well that he became a renowned shipwright, adding his own innovations to a solid foundation of seamanship. One day he declared he had mastered their technology. "But I don't see what's better about it." Saying that, he boarded his sword and left, never to return.
Finis

The Difference Between Boats and Ships

Ships are what people will say about your characters, and BOAT (Best of All Time) is what you wish they would say.

The Difficulties Are Perhaps Insuperable

A pebble bounced down the hillside and straight off the island. Doanu watched its progress while Ferdin stared at the ships entering and leaving port. "You know, Doanu."
"Doubt it." He kicked another pebble.
"I bet we could apply some of the construction principles of our ships to build ships suitable for other environments. Obviously we'd have to make all kinds of adjustments, but I really think it could be done."
"'Other environments?' Come on. What are you talking about? I shouldn't ask. I know you have no idea either."
"I'm talking about seaships, lakeships, riverships. All kinds of ships. Waterships!"
"Uh huh. Why would we want those?" Doanu swept his hand as if to mark all the sky surrounding the island with gold paint. "What are we missing here?"
"You never know."
"Hey! I'm not going up there after you clowns!" They looked to the foot of the hill and saw Ranoal waving for their attention. "Chief Lanneoru wants us! The order came down! We gotta reduce the oil usage!"
"Geh. Stupid oil." Doanu began to tromp down the slope. "What a pain. Where do you think those 'whale' things come from, anyway?" "I don't know. Maybe we can find them someday. With waterships!"
Doanu snorted.
Finis

History Corner

Did you know that most pre-industrial historians avoided talking about naval battle as much as most fantasy authors?

Definitely Don't Think About This

Malazan? I thought this ship was headed for Bonazan!

Trials of the Discerning

"Captain! We're listing!"
"Captain! The waves are rising!"
"We have to make landfall! Captain! Captain!"
"If you knew the true nature of those islands as I do, you would think your lives cheap to avoid them. No ship I command will ever make for the Boardgame Islands."
The timbers creaked, groaned, and began to split, and even veteran sailors lost their footing on the ocean-washed deck. At last the captain of the Wise Salmon submitted to his crew's entreaties and ordered a course to seek salvation at the mysterious islands few had ever seen.

"Hey Captain, this place is great! There are boardgames scattered all over for us to play, and sandwiches and orange juice next to them for our convenience. What's the problem?"
"The problem, Mr. Winton, is that because of the eccentricities of the currents in this region, only badly designed games wash ashore here. Look at Mr. Sendsgate over there as he runs a rousing game of Moonbound. Mr. Vendale won that game twenty minutes ago, but it will continue for another twenty. If not more."
"Maybe so, Captain, but is that so bad?"
"They waste time! It will take those sailors days to learn the proper rules for Fire and Sand. And they steal attention from games with better balance and easier to understand rules. Truly, these islands are a trap and a punishment for the careless."
"I see. Well, I'm off to play, sir."
Captain Sternwright nodded and sent Mr. Winton on the way, while he maintained his vigil and thought of how much more fun he could be having in the parlors on the continent.
Finis