the present invention relates to a human - powered boat that a user can easily operate with his / her own manual power even though the boat is in a form causing large resistance to propulsion , and the human - powered boat is equipped with a propulsion apparatus that imitates the tail fin of a fish . the propulsion apparatus , in which an oscillating foil mechanism is applied to an “ l - shaped oar ”, enables a rider to perform forward - facing rowing and can easily change a direction and prevent damage due to a collision with an underwater obstacle . typically , the human - powered boat of the present invention has the following three limitations in order to maximize simplicity while maintaining propulsion efficiency , compared with prior arts in the same technical field : first , a rider has a specific limitation in tilting the propulsion apparatus through an up - down movement of his / her arm . second , the foil of the propulsion apparatus does not make contact with the longitudinal axis of the boat body in a predetermined range of motion . third , the propulsion apparatus has a predetermined level of limitation in generating a propulsion force below the submerged portion of the boat body .