sentences:  In antiquity, ancient Greeks used lead plates to protect the under-water hull.Deterioration of the hull of a wooden ship was a significant problem during the Age of Sail.Ships' hulls were under continuous attack by shipworm, barnacles and various marine weeds, all of which had some adverse effect on the ship, be it structurally, in the case of the worm, or affecting speed and handling in the case of the weeds.