The Boat is a 1921 American two-reel silent comedy film written and directed by, and starring Buster Keaton.

Taking to a ridiculously small dinghy that is in fact a bathtub, the family resign themselves to sinking into the sea—until they realize they are actually standing in shallow water.

[5] Oldham notes that the boat's name, Damfino (or "damn if I know") reflects Keaton's own reaction to the perplexing and challenging world he confronts in his films.

[9] Neibur and Niemi consider The Boat the third installment in a trilogy of films about a young married couple, beginning with The Scarecrow (1920) and continuing with One Week (1920).

[3] The production crew initially weighted the boat meant to sink with approximately 1,600 lb (730 kg) of pig iron and T-rails, but as the vessel slid off the ramp it slowed down instead of gliding underwater.

Finally, the crew towed the boat out to Balboa Bay off Newport Beach, California, and sank an anchor with a cable attached to a pulley mounted on the stern.

[11] Keaton and Gabourie also conceived the design of the boat's collapsible funnels, mast, and rigging which enable it to pass under bridges, in another inventive sight gag.

[12] Metro Pictures released The Boat on November 10, 1921,[10] including versions with the foreign titles La barca (Italy and Spain), Frigo capitaine au long cours (France), Acksónak (Hungary) and Buster merenkulkijana (Finland).

[10] In his autobiography My Wonderful World of Slapstick, Keaton said that the signature image of his pork pie hat floating on the water at the end of the film instantly identified him and made audiences think he was "walking underwater just underneath it".