What is the back of a ship called?

The rear of the boat, described as the aft portion, is known as the stern. The stern is where the engine's propellers and rudder are located.

Older wooden ships used two primary designs called a square or fantail stern. The square stern uses a series of wooden planks that run side by side. The only flattened surface of the vessel was found at or near its waterline.

Fantail sterns refer to boats that focus on stretching the diagonally designed aft upwards. This design led to a more circular hull. The hull itself was very durable, and fantail designs were commonly used as a basis for warships between 1840 and 1920.