Half of every Rust map is water, and the fastest way to loot it, fish it or cross it is a boat. The cheapest one with an engine is the Motor Rowboat: 125 scrap at the Fishing Village, four seats, a small storage box and a fuel tank that lasts well over an hour.
This Rust boats guide covers the rowboat in full (price, stats, fuel, how to drive it and what it takes to sink it), then lines it up against every other boat in the game: the kayak, the RHIB, both submarines, the PT Boat from the Naval Update, player-built boats and the tugboat.
- Every Boat
- Where to Get One
- Rowboat Stats
- Rowboat vs RHIB vs Kayak
- How to Drive
- How to Sink One
- Tips
- FAQ
Every Boat in Rust
Rust has eight kinds of boat. Four come from the Fishing Village boat vendor, one is crafted, one is captured, one is built piece by piece, and one no longer spawns on official servers.
| Boat | How to get it | Health | Seats | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayak | Craft at a Workbench 1 (200 wood, 75 metal fragments, 50 cloth) | Low | 2 | Paddle |
| Motor Rowboat | Fishing Village, 125 scrap | 400 | 4 | Low grade fuel, 6 / min |
| RHIB | Fishing Village, 300 scrap | 500 | 6 | Low grade fuel |
| Solo Submarine | Fishing Village, 200 scrap | 500 | 1 | Low grade fuel |
| Duo Submarine | Fishing Village, 300 scrap | 700 | 2 | Low grade fuel |
| PT Boat | Captured in the Deep Sea (Naval Update, February 2026) | High | 7 | Low grade fuel |
| Player-built boat | Boat Building Station and Boat Building Plan | Depends on build | Any | Sails and engines |
| Tugboat | Spawns disabled on official servers since 5 February 2026 | 3,000 | Crew | Low grade fuel |
For a full list that also covers helicopters, cars and trains, see the Rust vehicles guide.
Where to Get a Rowboat in Rust
Since the Boat Vendor update in September 2020, boats no longer spawn along beaches. You buy them from the boat vendor at a Small or Large Fishing Village, a coastal safe zone. Pay the scrap at the vendor and your boat appears on the spawn ramp at the dock.
| Boat vendor item | Base price |
|---|---|
| Motor Rowboat | 125 scrap |
| RHIB | 300 scrap |
| Solo Submarine | 200 scrap |
| Duo Submarine | 300 scrap |
| Kayak and Paddle blueprints | Cheap scrap, for players who cannot afford a boat yet |
Prices can drift a little with demand on the server. Larger villages reliably stock the full lineup; the smallest ones may not sell the RHIB. Short on scrap? Our scrap guide covers the fastest ways to get 125.
Rust Rowboat Stats
| Stat | Motor Rowboat |
|---|---|
| Price | 125 scrap at the Fishing Village |
| Health | 400 HP |
| Seats | 4: the driver at the stern, two in the middle and one at the bow |
| Storage | 12 slots |
| Fuel | Low Grade Fuel, 500 tank capacity |
| Fuel use | 6 per minute (360 an hour), so a full tank lasts about 1 hour 23 minutes |
| Decay | About 3 hours from full health if left unused |
| Item ID | 1878053256 (shortname rowboat) |
Fuel is cheap to run. A full 500 stack covers well over an hour of driving, which is more than a whole loop of a 4,000 size map. Carry a spare stack anyway; running dry far from shore means a long swim.
Rowboat vs RHIB vs Kayak
All three are coastal boats, and each one suits a different player.
| Kayak | Motor Rowboat | RHIB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Crafted (WB1) | 125 scrap | 300 scrap |
| Health | Low (2 HV rockets) | 400 HP | 500 HP |
| Seats | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Storage | None | 12 slots | Large box |
| Fuel | None, needs a Paddle | 6 / min | About 15 / min |
| Best for | Silent solo trips | Solos and duos, fishing, coastal loot | Full teams, Oil Rig runs |
Solo or duo? Buy the rowboat. It costs less than half as much as the RHIB, burns less fuel, and you rarely need six seats. Full team heading to the Oil Rig or Cargo Ship? The RHIB carries everyone in one trip. Fresh spawn with no scrap? A kayak costs only wood, frags and cloth, and the Paddle (200 wood, 15 metal fragments and a Metal Blade, no workbench) doubles as a melee weapon.
How to Drive a Rowboat in Rust
- Buy it. Pay 125 scrap at the boat vendor and walk to the spawn ramp.
- Fuel it. Hold E on the engine at the back and choose to open the fuel storage, then drop in low grade fuel.
- Take the wheel. Press E on the rear seat beside the engine.
- Drive. W and S for throttle and reverse, A and D to turn. Friends press E on the other seats to ride along.
Run aground? Step off, look at the hull and use the Push prompt to shove it back into the water. Hold E on the storage box at the stern to open its 12 slots, and repair damage with a hammer while you are ashore.
How to Sink a Rowboat
400 HP does not last long. Anything stored on board sinks with the hull, so divers with a tank can pick it up off the sea floor.
| Explosive | Rowboat | RHIB | Kayak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torpedo | 1 (~12 sulfur) | 2 | 2 |
| HV Rocket | 1 (200 sulfur) | 2 | 2 |
| Rocket | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Timed Explosive (C4) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Satchel Charge | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| F1 Grenade | 4 | 8 | 3 |
| Beancan Grenade | 7 | 44 | 4 |
| Explosive 5.56 | 45 | 129 | 23 |
| MLRS Rocket | 1 | 2 | 1 |
A single submarine torpedo is the cheapest kill on the water, which is why submarines are the rowboat’s worst enemy. On land, an HV rocket from the shore does the same job.
Rust Boat Tips
- Carry spare fuel. A full tank lasts over an hour, but running dry far out is a long swim with your loot.
- Empty the box. Everything in the 12 slots goes down with the boat.
- Fish from the deck. A rowboat is a cheap floating fishing platform; drift into deeper water for bigger fish.
- Use it or lose it. An unused boat decays in about 3 hours, so do not treat the shore as free parking.
- Pack a diving tank. Sunk boats leave their loot on the sea floor, yours or someone else’s.
- Watch for subs. One torpedo sinks a rowboat; keep moving if you see bubbles.
Rust Boats FAQ
How much is a rowboat in Rust?
The Motor Rowboat costs 125 scrap from the boat vendor at a Fishing Village. The price can drift slightly with demand on your server.
Where do you get a boat in Rust?
Boats are bought from the boat vendor at a Small or Large Fishing Village: the Motor Rowboat (125 scrap), RHIB (300), Solo Submarine (200) and Duo Submarine (300). Boats have not spawned on beaches since the September 2020 Boat Vendor update. Kayaks are crafted, PT Boats are captured in the Deep Sea and player boats are built at a Boat Building Station.
How many people can fit in a rowboat in Rust?
Four: the driver at the stern, two passengers in the middle and one at the bow. The RHIB seats six and the kayak seats two.
How much fuel does a rowboat use in Rust?
It burns 6 low grade fuel per minute (360 per hour). The tank holds 500, so a full tank lasts about 1 hour 23 minutes.
How much health does a rowboat have?
400 HP, 100 less than the RHIB. One torpedo, one HV rocket, one satchel charge or one C4 sinks it.
Rowboat or RHIB, which is better?
The rowboat is better for solos and duos: it costs 125 scrap instead of 300 and burns less fuel. The RHIB is better for full teams, with 6 seats, 500 HP and a bigger storage box.
Do boats decay in Rust?
Yes. A Motor Rowboat or RHIB left unused decays from full health in about 3 hours, so use your boat regularly or expect to buy a new one.
Can you craft a boat in Rust?
You can craft a kayak at a Workbench 1 (200 wood, 75 metal fragments, 50 cloth) and a Paddle to row it. Since the Naval Update in February 2026 you can also build your own boat with a Boat Building Station. The rowboat and RHIB cannot be crafted; you buy them.
Is the tugboat still in Rust?
Tugboat spawns were switched off on official servers in the Naval Update on 5 February 2026. Facepunch said they may bring it back later. Player-built boats are the replacement.
Sources and Further Reading
- Health, decay and sink costs: rustlabs entity data
- Boat vendor and the end of beach spawns: Facepunch, Boat Vendor update
- PT Boat, player boats and the RHIB refresh: Facepunch, Naval Update
- Fuel tank and burn rate: RustHelp, Rowboat
- Seats and storage: Corrosion Hour, Rowboat guide