Barge vs. Raft — What's the Difference?

A barge is a shoal-draft flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of bulk goods. Originally barges were towed by draft horses on an adjacent towpath.

A raft is any flat structure for support or transportation over water. It is usually of basic design, characterized by the absence of a hull.

A long, large, usually flatbottom boat for transporting freight that is generally unpowered and towed or pushed by other craft.

A flat buoyant structure of timber or other materials fastened together, used as a boat or floating platform.

A large, open pleasure boat used for parties, pageants, or formal ceremonies.

A layer of reinforced concrete forming the foundation of a building.

A powerboat reserved for the use of an admiral.

A large amount of something

To carry by barge.

Travel on or as if on a raft

To move about clumsily.

Bring or fasten together (a number of boats or other objects) side by side

To intrude or interrupt, especially rudely

A flat structure, typically made of planks, logs, or barrels, that floats on water and is used for transport or as a platform for swimmers.

A large flat-bottomed towed or self-propelled boat used mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods or bulk cargo.

A flatbottom inflatable craft for floating or drifting on water

A richly decorated ceremonial state vessel propelled by rowers for river processions.

A great number, amount, or collection

A large flat-bottomed coastal trading vessel having a large spritsail and jib-headed topsail, a fore staysail and a very small mizen, and having leeboards instead of a keel.

To convey on a raft.

One of the boats of a warship having fourteen oars

To make into a raft.

The wooden disk in which bread or biscuit is placed on a mess table.

To travel by raft.

(US) A double-decked passenger or freight vessel, towed by a steamboat.

A flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform.

A large omnibus used for excursions.

(by extension) Any flattish thing, usually wooden, used in a similar fashion.

To intrude or break through, particularly in an unwelcome or clumsy manner.

A thick crowd of seabirds or sea mammals, particularly a group of penguins when in the water.

(transitive) To push someone.

(US) A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. which obstructs navigation in a river.

A pleasure boat; a vessel or boat of state, elegantly furnished and decorated.

A slice of toast.

A large, roomy boat for the conveyance of passengers or goods; as, a ship's barge; a charcoal barge.

A square array of sensors forming part of a large telescope.

A large boat used by flag officers.

(cooking) A mass of congealed solids that forms on a consommé because of the protein in the egg white.

A double-decked passenger or freight vessel, towed by a steamboat.

A large (but unspecified) number, a lot.

A large omnibus used for excursions.

(transitive) To convey on a raft.

A flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)

(transitive) To make into a raft.

Push one's way;

(intransitive) To travel by raft.

Transport by barge on a body of water

(GUI) To dock (toolbars, etc.) so that they share horizontal or vertical space.

A collection of logs, boards, pieces of timber, or the like, fastened together, either for their own collective conveyance on the water, or to serve as a support in conveying other things; a float.

A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. (such as is formed in some Western rivers of the United States), which obstructs navigation.

A large collection of people or things taken indiscriminately.

To transport on a raft, or in the form of a raft; to make into a raft; as, to raft timber.

A flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers

(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent;

Transport on a raft;

Travel by raft in water;

Make into a raft;