In the original Hebrew scripture there is no reference to a boat, Genesis/Bereshit 6:14 "Make thee a tebah of gopher wood..." Tebah means "chest, box, case, or hull, body." Tebah indicates a container. The word "ark" appears in the Latin translation as "arca." It translates into a chest, both as a box and the trunk of the human body and also as a coffin.
In the Bible, there are several types of "arks." In each case, the "ark" is a container that protects something sacred. It is like the "hull" of a seed: it protects the life-giving elements inside. The word "ark" is related to "arcane, arcanum" which means something hidden, a secret, known only to those specially informed. The arcane knowledge has always been reserved for those who were prepared beforehand to use it.
Reference~ gnosticteachings.org
In the Bible, there are several types of "arks." In each case, the "ark" is a container that protects something sacred. It is like the "hull" of a seed: it protects the life-giving elements inside. The word "ark" is related to "arcane, arcanum" which means something hidden, a secret, known only to those specially informed. The arcane knowledge has always been reserved for those who were prepared beforehand to use it.
Reference~ gnosticteachings.org