As I'm not sure which 'the old man the boat story' it is, if it's like Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea', then the main characters are the old man Santiago and the boy Manolin. There are also the fish he catches, like the marlin, which can be considered important characters in a way as they drive the plot.
Since I don't know the specific story, the man could be anyone. He could be a fisherman, a sailor, or just an ordinary person who decided to go on a boating adventure.
Since I don't know the exact 'the old man the boat story', I can only guess. Maybe it's about an old man who has a special bond with his boat. The boat might be a symbol of his past, his freedom, or his connection to the wider world. The story could detail his experiences on the boat, like fishing trips, or just peaceful moments on the water.
The main characters are, as the title implies, the old man and the old moon.
The main character in the 'man in the boat story' is the man in the boat, of course. He could be a person with a family waiting for him on land, which gives him the motivation to survive in whatever situation he is in while on the boat. Maybe he has a dream that he is trying to fulfill through his journey in the boat, or he could be running away from something in his past.
Since I don't know the details of the story, I can only assume that the main character is the boat man himself. He would be the central figure around which the story revolves.
The main characters are an old man and a young man. The story usually revolves around their relationship, their conversations, or the events that happen between them.
I don't know as I don't have details about this 'the boat story'. It could be fishermen if it's a fishing - related boat story.
I don't know as I haven't read it, but perhaps there is a sailor who takes care of the little boat.
Perhaps a phone operator. If the story is set in an older time when operators were more involved in making calls, the operator could play an important role in helping the old man with his calls.
I don't know who the author of 'the boat man novel' is. There are so many novels out there and without more information, it's hard to determine the author.