|Sternwheeler from wikipedia|
In 1859 the first true Missouri riverboat was in use. It was a stern-wheeler capable of hauling 350 tons of cargo.
Canoes -- made from hollowed out trees.
Bull boats -- made from hides stretched over a willow frame that was usually round or oval.
Flatboats or Mackinaws -- these vessels made of whip-sawed lumber could be as long as 70 feet. They were propelled by oars or a small sail with a man using a large oar at the back to steer. they were used to haul large amounts of cargo downstream. Never upstream.
|flat boat and keelboat from Wikipedia|