Steamboat

Steamboat

A Steamboat is a boat that is propelled primarily by steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the prefix designation SS, short for 'Steamship'. The term steamboat is used to refer to smaller, insular, steam-powered boats working on lakes and rivers, particularly riverboats.

History

The first steam-powered ship, called the Pyroscaphe, was built by Marquis Claude de Jouffroy in 1783. The first successful steamboat was the Clermont, built by Robert Fulton in 1807. The era of the steamboat began in America in 1787 when John Fitch made the first successful trial of a forty-five-foot steamboat on the Delaware River on August 22, 1787, in the presence of members of the United States Constitutional Convention.

Design and Operation

Steamboats are designed to be used on rivers, canals, and seas. They are powered by a steam engine, which works by heating water to produce steam. The steam is then used to turn a propeller or paddlewheel, which moves the boat forward. The steam is produced in a boiler, which is typically fueled by coal, wood, or oil.

Impact

Steamboats played a major role in the Industrial Revolution, opening up new markets and reducing transportation times. They also played a key role in the expansion of the United States to the west.

See Also

• Riverboat
• Paddle Steamer
• Steamship
• Industrial Revolution
• United States