Common River Boats

Humans have been perfecting the science of river boats for hundreds of years. River boats have been developed and used for essential services such as transportation and shipping as well as non-essential services such as recreation. Their function and size depends on the characteristics of the river on which they navigating and their function as commercial vehicles or pleasure boats. A wide variety of river boats exists, but there are some common river boats that are universally recognized.

  1. Canoes

    • Canada is the home of the canoe, one of the most efficient and versatile river boats. The indigenous people of the region spent hundreds of years perfecting the river-faring design that has made the canoe light, fast and portable. Originally built from birch bark, pine root and hot spruce resin modern canoes are made from materials like plastic and fiber-glass and are strong enough to navigate larger bodies of water.

    Ferries and Barges

    • Small barges use canals in Amsterdam.

      Rivers in cities or other populated areas can be an inconvenience. Building a bridge isn't always an option due to geography or economy, so small river boats designed for canals and commutes are fairly common. This is especially true in Europe, where canals were developed for transportation before roads and cars. Even landlocked areas can be rich in freshwater rivers and lakes that necessitate the need for a sophisticated system of river boats.

    Steamboats

    • Steamboats navigate the Mississippi River.

      Steamboats of the Mississippi river are some of the most famous river barges and have appeared frequently in American literature and art. These big, cumbersome, often slow but hardy boats helped make the Mississippi a major highway of commerce and transportation in the early 19th century. The first steamboat traveled the Mississippi in 1812.

    Gondolas

    • A typically city street in Venice, Italy is a canal.

      This small, elegant boat has been in use for about a thousand years to navigate the crowded and narrow streets of Venice. A single person with a long pole can maneuver this boat through even the most awkward angle. What the Venetian gondola has in versatility it gives up in stability. This little boat can only carry a few passengers and limited goods, and is not very seaworthy outside the confines of Venice.