diff --git a/ArduCopter/config.h b/ArduCopter/config.h
index d7066f389de70..3cfdf0ceb4c35 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/config.h
+++ b/ArduCopter/config.h
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Ship Operations Supoort - support for landing relative to a beacon
 #ifndef MODE_SHIP_OPS_ENABLED
-# define MODE_SHIP_OPS_ENABLED !HAL_MINIMIZE_FEATURES && MODE_FOLLOW_ENABLED
+# define MODE_SHIP_OPS_ENABLED MODE_FOLLOW_ENABLED
 #endif
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/ArduCopter/mode.h b/ArduCopter/mode.h
index 3f1cac7abeb18..ab60489e36bc7 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/mode.h
+++ b/ArduCopter/mode.h
@@ -1527,7 +1527,9 @@ class ModeShipOperation : public Mode {
     Vector3f offset;
     bool ship_takeoff;
     bool pilot_correction_active;
-    struct {
+    class Ship {
+    public:
+        void reset(const Vector3f &pos_with_ofs_ned, const Vector3f &vel_ned_ms, float target_heading_deg);
         Vector3p pos_ned;
         Vector3f vel_ned;
         Vector3f accel_ned;
diff --git a/ArduCopter/mode_ship_ops.cpp b/ArduCopter/mode_ship_ops.cpp
index aed4327e22c94..043ad58861937 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/mode_ship_ops.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/mode_ship_ops.cpp
@@ -155,13 +155,7 @@ bool ModeShipOperation::init(const bool ignore_checks)
     float target_heading_deg = 0.0f;
     g2.follow.get_target_heading_deg(target_heading_deg);
 
-    ship.pos_ned = pos_with_ofs_ned.topostype();
-    ship.vel_ned = vel_ned_ms;
-    ship.accel_ned.zero();
-    ship.heading = radians(target_heading_deg);
-    ship.heading_rate = 0.0;
-    ship.heading_accel = 0.0;
-    ship.available = true;
+    ship.reset(pos_with_ofs_ned, vel_ned_ms, target_heading_deg);
 
     offset.zero();
     offset.xy() = curr_pos_neu_cm.xy() - ship.pos_ned.xy().tofloat();
@@ -254,6 +248,17 @@ void ModeShipOperation::set_approach_mode(ApproachMode new_approach_mode)
 
 }
 
+void ModeShipOperation::Ship::reset(const Vector3f &pos_with_ofs_ned, const Vector3f &vel_ned_ms, float target_heading_deg)
+{
+    pos_ned = pos_with_ofs_ned.topostype();
+    vel_ned = vel_ned_ms;
+    accel_ned.zero();
+    heading = radians(target_heading_deg);
+    heading_rate = 0.0;
+    heading_accel = 0.0;
+    available = true;
+}
+
 void ModeShipOperation::run()
 {
     float yaw_cd = attitude_control->get_att_target_euler_cd().z;
@@ -304,13 +309,7 @@ void ModeShipOperation::run()
 
         if (!ship.available) {
             // reset ship pos, vel, accel to current value when detected.
-            ship.pos_ned = pos_with_ofs_ned.topostype();
-            ship.vel_ned = vel_ned_ms;
-            ship.accel_ned.zero();
-            ship.heading = radians(target_heading_deg);
-            ship.heading_rate = 0.0;
-            ship.heading_accel = 0.0;
-            ship.available = true;
+            ship.reset(pos_with_ofs_ned, vel_ned_ms, target_heading_deg);
         }
 
         shape_pos_vel_accel_xy(pos_with_ofs_ned.xy().topostype(), vel_ned_ms.xy(), accel_ned.xy(),
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/include/minimize_features.inc b/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/include/minimize_features.inc
index 0bcda34f3957c..e4261f78c78f8 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/include/minimize_features.inc
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/include/minimize_features.inc
@@ -61,3 +61,6 @@ define AP_CAMERA_SERVO_ENABLED AP_CAMERA_ENABLED
 
 # no SLCAN on these boards (use can-over-mavlink if required)
 define AP_CAN_SLCAN_ENABLED 0
+
+# no ship-ops on small boards:
+define MODE_SHIP_OPS_ENABLED 0