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B

oats have many different names depending on their style, size, and tradition, but at their root, they are watercrafts that can float and travel on water. In naval tradition, a boat is any vessel that can be carried by another vessel (i.e., a ship), and so submarines are also referred to as boats.

Boats have many uses. They can be used for work, like whaling ships, naval ships, and fishing boats. Some are used for transport, like ferries, cruise ships, and water taxis. They can also be used for leisure as in the case of pleasure boats, like ski boats, pontoon boats, and sailboats. Boats can even be lived on!

While boats were traditionally powered by man (i.e., using oars) or the wind (using sails), modern boats are mostly powered by motors.

The History of Boats

Archaeological evidence suggests that boats have been used as a means of transport since prehistoric times. The earliest example of a boat found by archaeologists is the dugout, which is essentially a very early example of a canoe.

Many examples of early boats have been found, with the Pesse canoe–the earliest dugout found from somewhere around 8200 to 7600 BC–being displayed in the Drents Museum, Netherlands.

In addition to dugouts, rafts have been operational seafaring vessels for at least the past 8000 years, and reed boats have been discovered dating back around 7000 years.

Boats have been used in varying capacities across the years, with trade being a key role of early boats. Indeed, many different boats have been found at Indus Valley archaeological sites, suggesting they were used for trade with Mesopotamia.

How Boats Work

Without prior knowledge of the function of a boat, it can be difficult to understand how boats actually function. What makes them float? How are they propelled? And what materials are best to build a boat? We take a quick look at all of these questions below to help you get to know these impressive vessels a little better.

Key Parts of a Boat

One of the most important parts of the boat is the hull. It constitutes the main structure of the boat, and it helps the boat to float. The sides of the boat are known as the gunnel, which protects the boat from water and makes it less likely to sink.

The deck sits across the hull, and the underside of this is known as the deck head. Anything above the deck is referred to as a superstructure. Larger ships, like cruise liners, have many decks, but small boats will likely only have one.