Thread: Ship or Boat

I expect this question has been asked and answered before.
Can anybody tell me what distinguishes a boat from a ship please ?

Originally Posted by tonylinsdell

I expect this question has been asked and answered before.
Can anybody tell me what distinguishes a boat from a ship please ?

You know how people say "size doesn't matter". Well in this case, and I'm no expert, size does matter.

I read somewhere on the net that the difference between a ship and a boat is: it's called a ship if it can carry a boat, and it's a boat if it can been carried by a ship.

I was about to give a very similar answer.

But I did find a clue on About.com, in an article titled "Big Boats vs. Small Boats -No Comparison:"


The Coast Guard Auxiliary wants the boating public to understand that consequences of interfering with a large ship in many of our narrow channels. Especially in our busy port cities, such as New York City, Boston, Houston, Los Angeles and Seattle.

Every day, hundreds to thousands of ships; vessels larger than 65 feet in length; enter and depart our busy ports. These vessels include tankers, cruise ships, container ships and tug-barge combinations. All these vessels are constrained by their draft; and are unable to maneuver; in the narrow range inside the narrow channels in and around our ports and harbors.


If you'd like to read the rest of the article, here's the link:
http://saltfishing.about.com/od/safety/a/aa050806a.htm

Good answers.

I was once told my a ships officer that the difference is...

"A ship carries boats on the side"

Love the answers.

Thanks , Cat and Canary

I was wondering if anybody was going to reply to my question. I considered reposting it under the more provocative title of "does size matter". I would have gotten more viewings at least. But now I have two potential answers.

A ship carries boats or

A ship is greater than 65 feet in length

...and a submarine is always called a boat.

PE

. . . and DON'T refer to your cruise vessel as a "boat" when speaking to the Captain! They are Masters of SHIPS, not boats, and to them, that's an important distinction.

I remember our Captain on the Jewel of the Seas saying it was a ship, that's what made me think of asking the question.

You mean Hollywood lied to us with "Love Boat"???

"Love Ship" just doesn't have the same ring to it!