Oh good lord.
Okay, so. There's no wind, so you're FAST as fuck, almost motorboat fast.
Second, the ship in Vintage Story is modular, so you can fill it with crates, or seats, or add more ropes to the mast to make two more makeshift seats for players. There are 6 slots in the boat, so either 6 crates or 6 seats or any of them, and they can be easily removed.
You cannot stand on a boat, you have to sit down.

Also dev says he wants to add figureheads later.

>>527979332
For me, it's Sea of Thieves. Community is cancer, but fishing and sailing is so relaxing.