Boats & Ships

[George]

Hi all, In a receant discusion, the question was asked, what is the differance between a Boat and a Ship????. I'm ashamed to admitt, that as an ex MN man I didn't know the answere. Can anyone please explain the what the difference is.
George
in Southampton

[Tony Wilding]

ships carry boats, example lifeboats, basically its size, difference between a motor cruiser and motor yacht is size,

[Jim Brady]

You can put a boat on a ship but you cannot put a ship on a boat.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Ivan Cloherty]

ships carry boats, example lifeboats, basically its size, difference between a motor cruiser and motor yacht is size,

Now, Now, Tony you know the difference between a motor cruiser and a motor yacht is SAILS

[j.sabourn]

If you looked up the definition of a ship 50 years ago, you would have been told it was a 3 or 4 masted vessel square rigged on all. This was in a post sometime ago. This is certainly not the official answer you will get now. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Captain Kong]

A SHIP, was originally a Square Rigger, on all three or four masts, a Barque was square rigged except for the After mast which was fore and aft sails. That was in the days of sail.
.
Today a seafaring man may referr to a liner as "I sailed on a Cunard boat", or one of Fyffes as "I sailed on a Skin Boat." or "I sailed on a Blue Flu Boat". or "I sailed on a Star Boat. " and so on.
So today it is a bit difficult to explain the difference.
I think, just please yourself what you say, shore people dont care anyway.
Cheers
Brian

[Tony Wilding]

hi again, a motor yacht does not necessarily have to have sails.Princess are one of the worlds biggest motor yacht builders

[vic mcclymont]

A ship can carry a boat a boat cannot carry a ship. A definition given to me years ago.

[Malcolm S]

How about "A ship has watertight integrity, a boat does not" This however falls flat when talking about submarines!!

Malcolm

[Ivan Cloherty]

hi again, a motor yacht does not necessarily have to have sails.Princess are one of the worlds biggest motor yacht builders

Tony, I stand corrected

Dictionary definition

"Light sailing vessel specially built and rigged for racing; vessel propelled by sails, steam, electricity, or other motive power other than oars and used for private pleasure excursions, cruising or similar travel"