In Steamboat Bill, Jr., the young man, named William Canfield Jr., is played by Buster Keaton. He arrives in his hometown to meet his father, Steamboat Bill Sr. (Ernest Torrance), who owns a dilapidated steamboat that he uses to ferry goods and passengers across the river. Canfield Sr. is disappointed to see that his son is an effete and delicate young man who's more concerned with his appearance than anything else.
Canfield Jr. tries to impress his father by donning fancy clothing and a boater hat, but his obstinacy and arrogance only add to his father's chagrin. As the story progresses, Canfield Jr. meets Katrina Van Tassel (Marion Byron), who is the daughter of his father's rival steamboat owner. Despite their fathers’ rivalry, Canfield Jr. and Katrina fall in love.
However, their romance is threatened by the arrival of a cyclone that threatens to destroy everything in its path, including the steamboats. The film culminates in a thrilling chase scene that involves Canfield Jr. riding a house that has been ripped from its foundation during the storm down the main street, avoiding obstacles and making hair-raising escapes as he tries to rescue Katrina from a collapsing building.
In the end, Canfield Sr. accepts his son for who he is, and the two reconcile. The film is notable for its comedic and acrobatic stunts, which were performed by Keaton himself, as well as its impressive special effects and thrilling action sequences.