Puzzle on 12/28/02

A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backwards or forwards.
For example, the word DAD is a palindrome.
The phrase A SANTA AT NASA is a palindrome.

This week, I will give you clues about a particular palindrome.
Your task is to discover the palindrome from my clues.

I am thinking of one word.

It is a special kind of boat that one person
may take down a river.

What is this word?