A vessel for transport by water, constructed to provide buoyancy by excluding water and shaped to give stability and permit propulsion. a small ship, generally for specialized use: a fishing boat. boat, generic term for small watercraft propelled by paddles, oars, sail, or motor, open or partially decked, and usually less than 45 feet (roughly 14 metres) in length. a small vessel for travel on water. : ship. : a boat-shaped container, utensil, or device. a gravy boat. a laboratory boat. A boat is a vehicle used to travel on water. It is smaller than a ship and can be lifted out of the water and carried on a ship. Some boats have sails, some are powered by rowing with oars, and some use motors. These boats are usually made of wood. For thousands of years people have used boats to move goods and people across water. Today the word boat means a small watercraft used for fun or for carrying small loads. Larger boats that carry many people or tons of goods over long distances are called ships. A lifeboat is a medium-sized boat that is sent out from a port or harbour in order to rescue people who are in danger at sea. A lifeboat is a small boat that is carried on a ship, which people on the ship use to escape when the ship is in danger of sinking. The captain ordered all passengers and crew into lifeboats. Boats were utilized about 900,000 years ago, according to evidence discovered by numerous archaeologists. Approximately 18 million boats are owned by Americans today. Others are business boats, while others are utilized for leisure purposes. Boats have a limited lifespan. Boats don’t sink because of the water on the outside, boats sink if water gets inside. Don’t let negative get inside of you, and sink your goals But, primarily, boats can be classified into three main sections as follows: Unpowered or man-powered boats (like rafts, gondolas, kayaks, etc.), Sailboats (sail-propelled) Motorboats (engine-powered).