A canal boat is a specialized inland vessel designed with a flat bottom and a very narrow beam to fit through standard canal locks. Because canals have strict dimensional limits, these boats maximize cargo or living space by extending their length rather than their width. They are typically powered by small diesel engines and steered with a tiller.
Heard on the job
We had to wait at the lock for a 70-foot canal boat to pass through before we could proceed.
Also heard as
- narrowboat