Well, I don't think there is a God in the sense of how most define him. But I don't know that for sure.

In some aspects of my behaviour, that is indeed the same as having a firm belief that there is no God. It means I won't bother praying or attending church, and I won't worry about what God might think. But in other ways, it might not be the same. If I was presented with compelling evidence for a God, I might believe it, whereas a firm non-believer might not.

Regarding the boat analogy, I would say that my lack of a belief is questioning whether the boat is going to take me to the right place. Someone with religious faith will get on the boat without requiring evidence that the boat will take them where they want to go. But I'm saying I need to know where it's going before I get on the boat, which is a far more sensible approach.

In that sense, the choice is not made by me. The choice is made by the lack of evidence of where the boat is going. In that instance, it is indeed the same outcome as if I had said that I was certain the boat was going to the wrong place. But the difference is, if another boat arrived in the future, with evidence it was going to the right place, I would get on that boat. So in the bigger picture, it's not the same thing.

If I see evidence of God, I will believe in him. Until then, I will behave as if he doesn't exist. This is an entirely rational approach.