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Whats the Difference between a Boat and a Ship?
Two words that I commonly hear interchanged with little regard to their actual meaning are "boat" and "ship." Have you ever wondered what the difference is between them?
Regardless of whether you've wondered or not, referring to a ship or boat erroneously can win you a couple of sidelong glances from boating elitists.
It doesn't affect me in any major way, so I'll generally let it slide. After all, words are based on context. If we're rowing a dinghy and you ask me to take over and row the ship solo, I'll know that despite using the word very incorrectly you're probably referring to the watercraft that we're both sitting in.
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How can you ensure that you never get these two words mixed up? Well, it's a fairly simple matter once you know what you're looking for when it comes to the differences between a boat and a ship.
If you're looking at 60 meters or more, it's a ship. If it's 60 meters or less, it means it's a boat. The boat vs ship distinction isn't usually so cut and dry.
Where do jumbo yachts fall in? There are four or five key differences to take note of that will instantly tell you whether a specified watercraft is a ship or a boat. Let's jump right in and find out what they are!
Size Matters
The most obvious difference when you're asking yourself whether a vessel is a boat or a ship is the size. Boats are much smaller in general, and ships can get absolutely massive. Some overlap does occur, and depending on the locale, things can get changed up somewhat.
If you go to the Philippines, a large fishing trawler might be called a ship. Taking that same boat to a port in California might transform the very same vessel into a boat.
There are no hard and fast rules. Much of the decision relies on comparative measurements. Ships will outsize most of the boats around them.
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Size also matters in the differences between boats and ships when you're looking at the size of the crew. Take a headcount if you're able. If that number reaches into the double digits, you're almost certainly looking at a ship.
Boats can usually be manned fairly easily by just one or two people, whereas ships require a significantly larger number to operate safely.
Another subsection of size is whether or not the vessel in question is carrying cargo. Passengers count as a form of cargo, and believe it or not, they actually require a lot more space than inanimate cargo. You won't see anyone on a luxury cruise line packed into a cabin the size of a Toyota Camry.
Where Do They Operate?
Another easy way to tell if you're looking at a ship or a boat is to consider what sort of waters they're generally operating in. I'd venture a guess that 70% of boats don't head out into the deepest blue unless they're really in search of adventure. You'll almost always find boats within a few thousand yards of the harbor or shore.
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Anything that's small enough to fit into a river or inlet should never be referred to as a ship. Ships, on the other hand, are the behemoths that patrol international sea shipping lanes and ferry passengers to continents on the other side of the ocean. If a vessel primarily operates in the middle of the ocean, call it a ship.
Obviously, there's some mixing regarding where vessels go. You'll sometimes see ships near the harbor, or you might catch a glimpse of some brave soul headed to another continent.
However, when it comes to the overall differences between boats and ships, the question of where they operate should be one of the generalities.
Method of Propulsion
As a general rule, one major difference between boats and ships is that ships will always have a dedicated built-in engine system in place for all of their propulsion needs.
Boats get around via sails, motors or human elbow grease. There's a big difference between an engine and an outboard motor. The engine drives the motor, which turns the propeller. Ships cut out the middleman and have the engine turn the propellers directly.
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There are cases that fall somewhere in the middle and blur the line between boats and ships, like those fishing trawlers that I mentioned, but they are exceptions to the rule. For almost every other watercraft out there, these three simple questions will be enough to cut a clear case on whether something is a boat or a ship.
Last Word on Boat VS. Ship
As I stated at the very beginning, whatever you call a watercraft, the context is what truly matters. You can call my boat a ship, and I'll call your ship a boat. It doesn't have much effect on anything. Do you want to know what does have a significant effect on my view of your vessel? If it isn't well maintained.
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Put as much investment as you possibly can into your boat or ship and it will treat you right for a long time to come. Is your hull caked with grease, grime or algae? That's going to make a statement about your level of professionalism.
Don't hesitate to take a minute and apply some Better Boat Instant Boat Hull Cleaner so you can keep your vessel looking right!
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On top of keeping a shiny outward appearance, keep up your standards of safety. No matter the size of your watercraft, it's imperative to let others know your intentions.
A large personal air horn can do just that. Don't risk losing your boat to a much larger ship or chance a lawsuit when your ship obliterates a tiny boat. As always, better to be safe than sorry!
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