Riverboat

A riverboat is a watercraft designed to operate on rivers. It typically features a shallow draft to cope with shallow water, sandbars, and changing currents, and its hull may be flat-bottomed or only lightly rounded to maximize stability and load capacity in inland channels. Propulsion has historically included paddle wheels—sternwheelers and sidewheelers—as well as propellers or other inland-water engines. Riverboats can be built as passenger ferries, cargo vessels, dredging platforms, or sightseeing craft.

Historically, the term is closely associated with 19th-century North American steam-powered paddle-wheel boats that navigated the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers. These steamboats enabled rapid movement of people and goods and played a major role in the economic and social development of inland regions. They also faced risks such as boiler failures and fires. Similar concepts and vessels appeared in other parts of the world, tailored to local river systems and commerce.

In modern use, riverboats can refer to contemporary passenger vessels and tour boats designed for river cruising or local sightseeing, as well as traditional-style craft preserved as museum pieces or used on heritage routes. The phrase is sometimes associated with riverboat gambling operations in certain jurisdictions, though that usage is separate from technical design. Across eras, riverboats emphasize shallow-water performance, straightforward maintenance, and reliable propulsion for inland waterways.