Anyway, even if gold were cheap... would you want to armor a ship wit one of the best conducting metals available? and one of the softest metals? There would be so many applications in electronics for good-quality gold...
And the shipyard probably should be more... substantial. Just becasue for some reason people keep making shipyards that essentially are bars holding ships in place, doesn't mean it's a good design. I'd recommend leaving the ribs on, but putting a solid sheath all the way down studded with doors for mechanical gear, said gear, etc. on the inside and with those ribs sticking out slightly on the oustide to provide visual interest.
Also, wouldn't it be great to have a big, Deimos- shaped mold at the end?

Serioiusly, don't do that last one.