Boat building is the design and construction of boats (instead of the larger ships) — and their on-board systems. This includes at minimum the construction of a hull, with any necessary propulsion, mechanical, navigation, safety and other service systems as the craft requires.
The boat building industry provides for the design, manufacturing, repair and modification of human-powered watercrafts, sailboats, motorboats, airboats and submersibles, and caters for various demands from recreational (e.g. launches, dinghies and yachts), commercial (e.g. tour boats, ferry boats and lighters), residential (houseboats), to professional (e.g. fishing boats, tugboats, lifeboats and patrol boats).