A boat must maintain its shape in the face of local internal weights, such as an engine or a heavy cargo, and it must be strong enough to resist the force of battering waves. Because a hull of sufficient strength can be built of thin material, the risk of local puncture can be great in a boat that is otherwise quite strong. For example, a traditional boat built of skins or of bark, or a modern inflatable boat, are sufficiently strong and buoyant, but all are vulnerable to puncture or perforation.
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