Overview of cases where ships and boats have been excavated and preserved to some degree. Describes conserving waterlogged wood by replacing water with substances that can be removed later (alcohol-ether-resin or freeze drying) and replacement of water by liquid which can be solidified in <1situ (acetone-rosin or alum or liquid monomer or PEG). Mentions a survey done by the National Maritime Museum on boats excavated in Britain.