This article is about the water vessel. For the Chinese meal or Colorado ski resort, see Chinese Steamboat or Steamboat Ski Resort, respectively.

A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a boat or vessel which is propelled by steam power that driving a propeller or paddlewheel. The term steamboat is usually used to refer to smaller steam-powered boats working on lakes and rivers, particularly riverboats in the USA; steamship generally refers to steam powered ships capable of carrying a (ship's) boat. Steamships gradually replaced sailing ships for commercial shipping through the nineteenth century, and were in turn superseded by diesel-driven ships in the second half of the twentieth century. Most warships used steam propulsion until the advent of the gas turbine. Today, nuclear powered warships and submarines use steam to drive turbines, but are not referred to as steamships or steamboats.

Screw-driven steamships generally carry the ship prefix "SS" before their names. Paddle steamers usually carry the prefix "PS". The term steamer is occasionally used, out of nostalgia, for diesel motor-driven vessels, prefixed "MV".

Early development

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As often happens with inventions, the development of the steam engine powered vessel involved many people, sometimes working at the same time. One of the first to propose the idea (around 1690) was the physicist Denis Papin who was developing steam engines. In 1707 he constructed a paddle-powered boat, but whether it was full-size and steam-powered or not is unclear. River boatmen took exception to the threat to their trade and destroyed it.

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RT @steamboatpilot: Steamboat beats Glenwood, 30-21, clinches Western Slope League title! Nic job, Sailors! #fb
chad_james (Chad James) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:34:29 -0000
RT @steamboatpilot: Steamboat beats Glenwood, 30-21, clinches Western Slope League title! Nic job, Sailors! #fb
Steamboat beats Glenwood, 30-21, clinches Western Slope League title
steamboatpilot (Pilot & Today) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:30:51 -0000
Steamboat beats Glenwood, 30-21, clinches Western Slope League title
Steamboat 30, Glenwood 21. FInale.
GSPIsports (GSPIsports) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:27:05 -0000
Steamboat 30, Glenwood 21. FInale.
Field goal by Steamboat's Pete Schuette puts Sailors up 30-21 with 2 minutes to play
steamboatpilot (Pilot & Today) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:19:23 -0000
Field goal by Steamboat's Pete Schuette puts Sailors up 30-21 with 2 minutes to play
is going to library now, tonight my class farewell steamboat dinner. http://plurk.com/p/2jfka4
andyooi (andyooi) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:19:14 -0000
is going to library now, tonight my class farewell steamboat dinner. http://plurk.com/p/2jfka4
Peter Schuette 21-yard FG. Steamboat goes up 30-21. 1:55 to go.
GSPIsports (GSPIsports) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:17:12 -0000
Peter Schuette 21-yard FG. Steamboat goes up 30-21. 1:55 to go.

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