Shipbuilding became an important trade in New England because of the geography of New England.
Much of New England's earliest cities were on the coast and residents relied on the coast for their livelihoods, mostly in the form of cod fishing for early Americans and trading with Europe and only colonies. As a result, shipbuilding emerged out of necessity and with the abundance of forests backing the New England coast, it turned out that New England was well suited to become a boat making haven.