Which structural failure mode commonly affected timber sailing ships as they aged, especially in tropical waters?

💡 Explanation

As ships aged, especially in warm, humid climates, dry rot (a fungal decay) would weaken the structural integrity of hull planks because fungi consume cellulose, reducing the wood's strength. Therefore dry rot weakening results, rather than rupture, hogging/sagging, or knot dislodgement which involve different stress or impact mechanisms.

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