boats.js

const _ = require("lodash");

const boat = {
    color : {
        back : "red",
        front : {
            noose : "grey",
            hood : "blue"
        }
    }
}

const preferences = [
    {
        key : "color.back",
        value : "purple"
    },
    {
        key : "color.front.hood",
        value : "yellow"
    }
];

const applyPreferences = ( boat , preferences ) => {
    const customisedBoat = Object.assign( {} , boat );
    _.each( preferences , ( { key , value } ) => {
        _.set( customisedBoat, key , value );
    });

    return customisedBoat;
}

console.log(applyPreferences( boat , preferences ));