runabout

A runabout is a type of motorboat, which is a relatively small watercraft propelled by an engine. These boats are commonly used for recreation, such as cruising, fishing, and water sports like water skiing.1

Motorboats can be classified by their engine installation: inboard, with the engine permanently mounted within the hull, or outboard, with a portable motor attached to the stern. They also feature different hull types: displacement hulls push through the water, while planing hulls skim across the surface at higher speeds.1

The outboard runabout is a smaller, often open boat, while inboard runabouts can be larger and may have a shelter top. More elaborate motorboats include cruisers, which have enclosed cabins for living aboard, and motor yachts, which are larger cruisers designed for oceanic routes.1