A rowboat is a small, lightweight vessel designed for short-distance travel on lakes and rivers. Propelled by a single rower at 1½ mph, it carries minimal cargo and is easily maneuvered. While ineffective against strong currents, it can be pulled upstream by draft animals along the shoreline.
Less bulky than a raft, less maneuverable than a canoe, the boat is homey and small. Its rail is green and the sides a cheerful yellow. A folded blanket rests on the bench. The oars sit in their locks, blades in the water like the legs of a fat insect. The rowboat waits in the eddy of the river, ready to travel.