I can't Place anything an large ships without it going underwater

[I can't Place anything an large ships without it going underwater]

I am having this problem too.  I built one ship already but it bugged out and wouldn't turn.  So I built a little boat and went to s small island and now I am rebuilding a big ship again.  But now it won't let me place sails on the new ship without it sinking.  It's very disheartening.

[Clay virtually nonexistant]

I'm on a desert island and there is no clay.  Anywhere.  I have been around the whole thing several times and nada.  I also can't find iron.  I spawned there after I died on another island and it's frustrating cause all my stuff is somewhere else.  Thoughts?