DREADMOOR Dry Dock module installation is a physical process: research a blueprint, craft the component, expose its slot with the lift, and fit it to the boat. Buying research alone does not install armor or replace the engine. The opening demo makes the distinction clear through hull protection and the upgraded-engine quest.
Unlock and prepare the dry dock
John the Fifth gives you the dock key after you repair his moonshine still. Inside, the first tasks are restoring the fuse box, switching on the lights, bringing the boat in, and following the cleaning and repair objectives.
Finish those tasks before expecting the upgrade chain to advance. The recorded route raises the boat to the second level for cleaning and uses the first level during the repair-tool stage. Later module installation again uses the lift to put the boat at a working height.
The workflow is documented in Mr. Feudal's demo player experience. It is a guide to the opening module interactions, not a claim that every future part uses the same slot or requires an identical lift position.
Separate research, crafting, and installation
After the Chromatic Scales step, John supplies Scraps of Knowledge and asks you to study hull protection and the upgraded engine. The research menu unlocks those recipes, but the component still has to be built.
Use the appropriate station for the job:
| Task | What completes it |
|---|---|
| Unlock a boat blueprint | Spend the required knowledge in the upgrade tree |
| Produce the component | Gather materials and craft it at the lathe workbench |
| Fit the component | Carry it to the boat and use its matching module slot |
| Finish the quest stage | Complete any requested follow-up conversation |
Keep an eye on the actual item name at the lathe. The standard engine and upgraded engine are different choices; crafting an extra standard engine does not satisfy the upgraded-engine objective.
Use the recipe displayed by your current build for quantities. The selected recordings do not reliably establish every material count or the performance statistics of all modules.
Fit hull protection at the boat
Bring the boat into the dock and use the lift to reach the working level requested by the objective. Craft the hull-protection component at the lathe, pick it up, and use an appropriate armor slot on the boat.
Repeat for the remaining requested protection piece rather than assuming one craft automatically fills every slot. If materials run out, check the missing ingredient and gather it before attempting another component.
In the documented demo route, later hull crafting sends the player back for Coral Fiber and Bug Slime. That is a supply shortage, not evidence that research failed or that the slot should accept an unfinished part.
After installation, return to John when the quest asks. The engine conversation follows the hull stage, so an unfinished dialogue can leave the next task unavailable even though a visible armor part is attached.
Remove and store the old engine before replacing it
The upgraded engine requires the Carburetor obtained through the merchants' Harpooner quest. Once you have that component and the other required materials, return to the dry dock and follow the engine objective in order.
The demo route raises the boat, removes the existing engine, and places it in module storage. The player then crafts the upgraded engine at the lathe and installs it in the engine slot before reporting to John.
Keep the removed engine rather than grinding or destroying it ahead of the quest. The documented installation sequence explicitly uses module storage; it does not establish that scrapping a quest-related engine early is safe.
The official DREADMOOR Steam page describes component-based boat upgrades, including propulsion and hull improvements. That broader feature list does not replace the current blueprint, material, and slot requirements shown in the demo.
FAQ
Why did research not change my boat?
Research unlocks the blueprint. Craft the part at the relevant bench and physically install it in the boat's matching slot.
Where do I craft the opening hull and engine modules?
The documented upgrade chain uses the dry dock's lathe workbench. The research screen and equipment-upgrade table perform different jobs.
What should I do with the original engine?
Follow the quest: remove it and place it in module storage before crafting and fitting the upgraded engine. Do not assume early destruction is safe.
Does every component automatically fit any empty slot?
No universal interchangeable-slot rule is established. Use the slot and installation interaction for the component you actually crafted.