The first vessel of which history gives any description is Noah’s ark. Present-day artists picture the ark as having a round bottom and sharp bow. The purpose of such design is to reduce friction and increase speed. However, the Bible describes the ark as being of a boxlike design. It did not have sails, masts or rudder. This was because it was not designed to move through the water, but, rather, to float on the water and carry a maximum load, as it did for five lunar months.—Gen. 7:17, 24.

God gave Noah the ark’s specifications, commanding him:

And this is how you will make it: three hundred cubits [about 450 feet, or, 137 meters] the length of the ark, fifty cubits [about 75 feet, or, 23 meters] its width, and thirty cubits [about 45 feet, or, 14 meters] its height.