Drunkboat tells the story of a young teenager, Abe (Jacob Zachar) who manipulates the unsuspecting help of his alcoholic uncle (John Malkovich) to buy a boat (a Drunkboat) from a con man named Mr. Fletcher (John Goodman) when his mother Elaine (Dana Delaney) is out of town. The story resonates with the struggle of Uncle Mort, making the story much deeper than a simple tale of a boy and his boat. Both the uncle and Abe come of age in the story.