2006-06-15 07:38:19 · 6 answers · asked by windrider_58 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
Well, we could get technical, I suppose. Among sailing vessels, the distinction between ships and boats is that a ship is a square-rigged craft with at least three masts, and a boat isn't. With regard to motorized craft, a ship is a large vessel intended for oceangoing or at least deep-water transport, and a boat is anything else.
But that's too much to remember. Try this: ships have to be big enough to carry boats, and boats have to be small enough to be carried by ships.
2006-06-15 07:44:27 · answer #1 · answered by oklatom 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Calling a vessel a ship or a boat depends on your point of view. We sailors have a saying that a boat can fit on a ship not the other way around. Technicaly they are refered to as Maritime Vessels. A good rule of thumb though is if it is ove 300 feet long and has a Gross tonnage over 1600 tons it is a ship.
2006-06-15 10:00:56 · answer #2 · answered by John C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a vessel 65 feet or greater in length is referred to as a ship, and a vessel smaller than 65 feet is a boat.
2006-06-15 07:45:11 · answer #3 · answered by FozzieBear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A boat is a pleasure craft, a ship is used to ship cargo. That is the difference. If you ship things on your boat, you can call it a ship.
2006-06-15 07:41:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most common, but not definitive and only answer, is that you can put a boat on a ship, but not vice-verse.
2006-06-16 10:10:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other answers covered surface craft pretty well. Submarines are called boats, regardless of size.
2006-06-15 12:51:37 · answer #6 · answered by Flyboy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋