When does a boat become a ship?

[mobetah]

I've always heard that a boat was a vessel that could be carried aboard a ship and if it was too large to be carried aboard a ship then it to was a ship!

But then again, I remember the USS COLE being loaded aboard a special transport ship, then being carried from the middle east to back to Mississippi for repairs. Would that make the USS COLE a boat?

[GordMay]

I’d expect it would take a very significant re-fit or extension to make a boat into a ship...

[Pelagic]

All the definitions above have their place in differentiating between a ship and a boat. But in today’s world (excepting Subs) a Ship is more defined by being of a certain Tonnage to require a pilot, crewing standard and certain mandatory “steamship” inspections. With Super yachts, sometimes 300 tons, in some places 500 tons. Not quite as romantic these days!

[irwinsailor]

Mine sure feels like a ship when I pay for dockage!

[rtbates]

And once a ship reaches inland waterways it becomes know as a boat...

Forgot where I read that tidbit..

[Panama Dave]

I lost out on an appointment to the Kingspoint Merchant Marine academy because I didn't know the answer to this question. I guess "uh..... ships are bigger" wasn't the answer the armchair sailor who presented the question was looking for.

[pjbsailing]

I have a Vessel. Sailing of course.

[liberty16]

Here's an example of a ship carrying a ship, so the definition can't involve what type of vessel it can carry.

[guns68]

Originally Posted by Vasco

A "ship" must have at least three masts and all masts must be square rigged.

In that case she would be refered to as "a full rigged ship"

I was taught in the Navy and the Coast Guard that if it's big enough to carry a boat it's a ship. That being said. In the Navy we always called a ship "the ship". In the Coast Guard we often call the cutter "the boat". The way I feel is call it what you want but be prepared to catch flack from those that have a stick up their backside.

[delmarrey]

The argument is a tough one, it seems it is a controversy all over the world.

Category talk:Ships - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[stuartcnz]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

2 or more full length decks above the waterline = a ship. Thats why submarines are called boats regardless of how huge they are - only 1 deck above the waterline.

I like this definition, as now I don't have to feel foolish when refering to the 4100 teu container ships (largest to service New Zealand) as the boat.

But then some of us, that work these ships in port, have a tendency to refer to the ends as the sharp end, and the blunt end. I guess it depends on who you are conversing with and the situation, as to what the appropriate language is.