The abiotic description and evaluation of the state of surface water bodies is a perquisite for an evaluation of the ecological condition of any body of water. It requires extensive data on hydrology, morphology and water quality. The BOOT-Monitoring project developed an integrated, longitudinally continuous data acquisition concept, which combines a boat-based sensor system and remote sensing methods. Configurations of the boat-based sensor system are presented for application conditions in lowland and upland rivers. A quasi continuous representation of the river morphology metrics are determined and assessed from remote sensing data, acoustic Doppler current profiler and echo sounding. A method for continuous interpolation of the riverbed serves as a basis for river cross sections determination. They are combined with longitudinal flow velocity and concentration profiles to quantify discharge and load devolution along the flow course. Longitudinal concentration profiles of nitrate and arsenic exemplify the limitations of conventional stationary site sampling. Based on the examples presented in the text, potentials, challenges, and limitations of the longitudinally continuous data acquisition approach are reflected and future research questions are suggested.