How to Draw a Boat

Co-authored by Kelly Medford

Last Updated: March 9, 2023 Approved

Want to go sailing but don't have a boat? Don't sweat over it. Chill out and follow this tutorial to learn how to draw a kayak, draw a yacht, draw a rowboat, and draw a sailing ship. If you want to draw a boat, draw an imaginary one or copy a picture from a book or online image.

Note: follow the red line for each step.

Things You Should Know

Start by drawing the outline of the boat using basic shapes and guidelines.
Add details to your drawing, like sails, masts, and siding.
Clean up your drawing by erasing any guidelines.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Drawing a Sailboat

1
Sketch the main body of the sailboat. Start by drawing a trapezoid shape.
2
Sketch a line perpendicular to the body of the boat. Next, draw a small trapezoid where this line is connected to the boat.

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3
Sketch another line. This time, place the line perpendicular to the first. Add more details to the stand of the mast.
4
Add the shape of the sails. Do this by drawing triangles, then add a line just above the body of the boat.
5
Add the guidelines for the distinct shape of the boat.
6
Draw the basic outline of the boat.
7
Erase the pencil marks. Add a few extra details, as you see fit.
8
Color the boat.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Drawing a Kayak

1
Sketch a long oblong.
2
Sketch a line 2/3 of the oblong.
3
Draw 2 curved line along the mid-line.
4
Add the primary sketch of the bottom of the kayak.
5
Draw a curvy line along the primary sketch of the bottom of the kayak. Also, draw the hole for the person to sit on by drawing a half circle.
6
Sketch a straight line for handle of the oar/paddle.
7
Sketch the basic shape for the blade of the oar/paddle.
8
Draw the basic outline of the boat.
9
Erase unnecessary lines. Put more details into your sketch.
10
Color the kayak. Use colors that would match the background or colors that create a unique design boat.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Drawing a Traditional Ship

1
Sketch an upside-down, truncated triangle in the middle of the page. This will be the body of the boat.
2
Draw a triangle on top of the base.
3
Draw a few squares on the triangle. These will be the sails.
4
Outline the shape of the boat. Add in details, such as wooden planks on the boat's body, a small lifesaver, and a mast behind the sails.
5
Erase the sketch lines. Make the contour stronger.
6
Add in the color. Follow the illustration for reference or color as you please.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Drawing a Realistic Style Wooden Boat

1
Sketch a big teardrop shape in the middle of the page. This will be the top part of the boat.
2
Under the teardrop shape draw a long arch. This will be the body of the boat.
3
Outline the boat's shape. Add in the details, inside and outside of the boat. Follow the illustration for reference.
4
Erase the sketch lines. Strengthen the contour with a pencil.
5
Make the boat colorful using the colors of your choice.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I draw a sunken ship?

Community Answer

First, make a basic ship in a slanted position on the page; lightly sketch it so you can easily erase any mistakes. Then, if you're drawing the sunken ship in an ocean, make sure that you draw it as if it were half-buried in sand surrounded by sea plants, coral, etc. Now start adding more details and darker lines to your seafloor/shipwreck sketch. Finally, do the shading and final details (like rust, holes, etc.).
Question

How would I draw a traditional boat sailing straight towards me?

Community Answer

Make sure your shading reflects on the water the way a boat facing forward would look, and draw the mast in front. Also, maybe look at an image of a sailboat sailing straight towards the camera for a better idea.
Question

How do I draw a very detailed boat?

Community Answer

First start out with simple shapes, then start adding detail. It would help to look at reference pictures, and check YouTube for tutorials.