Why aren't there any characters that want to be on the ocean?

[Ocean Enjoyer]

I am going to put it simply: A ocean-centric character needs to conform with DST's ocean and DST's emphasis on teamwork.

To elaborate with just a wee-bit of brainstorming:

1. Woodlegs and Walani require refreshes, that is not a question. As both as-is are designed for mechanics and features that are largely exclusive to Shipwreck unless Klei decides to port those over more. Wilbur is not a far stretch but his existing benefits are the same as Wonkey, and would be one that doesn't require accursed trinkets.
2. To give an example of them needing to conform to DST's ocean: Woodlegs and also Walani based on her quotes are pirates. So they would likely both have inherit things related to Moon Quay unlike other playable characters.
3. Woodlegs and Walani's main benefits in Shipwreck is they both had seafaring vessels at the start so they could travel immediately on the ocean and explore. DST is different based on its natural geography with the mainland being in the middle. So them being able to sea travel would mean they would be out there for longer aside from rushing Lunar like Woodie.
4. Woodlegs requires a refresh on his Lucky Hat, easiest fix is to give him locations of pirate stashes and later sunken treasure to use with a Pinchin Winch.
5. For Walani's concept of "going with the flow", she would likely be able to befriend sea creatures easier than others. The most immediate thing off the top of my head is having Rockjaws be neutral to her, being able to befriend Skittersquids (light source), and Gnarwails needing less meat for following. Which would provide her a method of creating ocean fishing farms. To not leave out other players, that like with Wurt, she would have an item she can craft for others that provides similar benefits.
6. Bioluminescene. For a quick refresher: It spawns at night on the ocean from dusk to dawn and persists during moonlight. Its basically fireflies but they don't move away from the player when approached, so it protects the player from Charlie. Can be used to craft Buoys and Bottle Lanterns, can be used to refuel Bottle Lanterns and Boat Lanterns and Miner Hats. Buoys don't need refueling but are limited to the ocean. (All this just to hammer in the point that a seafaring character could collect this on day 1)
7. Walani's Surfboard and Woodleg's Sea Legs are both meant to be unique seafaring vehicles to them and have some similarities with other vehicles. Since there is no dubloons and no seashells at the moment, and both characters want to be out on the sea, a simple fix is to give Walani and Woodlegs their own item that lets them spawn their respective seafaring vehicle. For Woodlegs a Ship's Manifest. For Walani a Seashell Necklace. Both items I would imagine having an cooldown of one day.
8. Regarding Walani and Woodlegs drawbacks, they need a tweak to fit more neatly within DST. Woodlegs is more a numbers thing based on how heavy his Sanity drain is while on land. Walani, to minorly reimagine it, 20% hunger increase after eating a 'turf' food instead of a 'surf' food (land food vs ocean food).
9. A stray thought but with Wilbur I would unironically let him have already prototyped all banana related items. This includes from Shipwreck a Silly Monkey Ball which with DST would let him or other players distract and deaggro Prime Mates and Powder Monkeys when they do a Pirate Raid.  
10. Unless Shipwreck-style waves and weather get added, Walani's surfboard should just get a movement speed bonus while continuously moving on the ocean after a few seconds. To incorporate the waves that do exist in DST on the ocean when caused by mobs or items, Walani can ride on those waves, gain 1 sanity, and the speedboost doesn't have a delay. Also Walani by default in Shipwreck drys off 20% faster and doesn't lose sanity from being wet, but does from wet tools. Its mostly fine as a benefit in my opinion and still different from Wurt. And the only other thing is the 10% for over time sanity effects, positive or negative, which at most might need a small buff to maybe 15% or 20% tops.
11. Woodlegs should have the option for upgrading Sea Leg's cannon. This could be simply tied back to his hat, the pirate stashes and sunken treasures, as they might provide to him a unique resource to do so.
12. So really the only other thing I can think for both Woodlegs, Wilbur, and Walani is them coming with some other on land benefit like a way to buff or heal their teammates.

[JJ0264]

after pirate monkeys + grass boats where added Woodlegs seems a better option (especially if he gets the portable boat), I have though a refresh Walani but it was challenging without completely changing her and I don't believe Klei will add every character to DST. Plus adding just 1 more character perfectly square character select screen, if we're including random guy.