A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 5:2

"and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets." — Luke 5:2 (ASV)

Two boats (πλοια δυο). Some MSS. have πλοιαρια, little boats, but πλοια was used of boats of various sizes, even of ships like νηες.

The fishermen (ο αλεεις). It is an old Homeric word that has come back to common use in the Koine. It means "sea-folk" from αλς, sea.

Were washing (επλυνον). Imperfect active, though some MSS. have aorist επλυναν. Vincent comments on Luke's use of five verbs for washing: this one for cleaning, απομασσω for wiping the dust from one's feet (10:11), εκμασσω of the sinful woman wiping Christ's feet with her hair (7:38,44), απολουω of washing away sins (symbolically, of course) as in Ac 22:16, and λουω of washing the body of Dorcas (Acts 9:37) and the stripes of the prisoners (Acts 16:33). On "nets" see on Mt 4:20; Mr 1:18.