Difference between boats and ships

[SV Siren]

It's all a matter of perspective...

When it comes to slip fees:
I see my sailboat as a "Boat"
The marina sees it as a "yacht".....every time...

[Cliffhanger]

Originally Posted by Dolphin35

Forgive my pedantry please,

Many of the above posts are true, valid and/or amusing (to me, anyway). However, based on 26 years service in the RN, the accepted definition is that to be a ship. a vessel must have more than one continuous deck above the waterline.

Hence submarines, and any other submersibles, are boats.

And to the original query, some of the larger motor cruisers/yachts out there would by this definition be "ships". Note though that the definition requires "continuous" decks, i.e. the full length of the vessel. A flybridge doesn't count!

Interesting definition as it explains why submarines are boats. But that would mean most cargo vessels would not be ships. The huge oil tankers, container ships and other bulk transport vessels typically only have a single continuous deck above the waterline.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by Dolphin35

Forgive my pedantry please,

Many of the above posts are true, valid and/or amusing (to me, anyway). However, based on 26 years service in the RN, the accepted definition is that to be a ship. a vessel must have more than one continuous deck above the waterline.

Hence submarines, and any other submersibles, are boats.

And to the original query, some of the larger motor cruisers/yachts out there would by this definition be "ships". Note though that the definition requires "continuous" decks, i.e. the full length of the vessel. A flybridge doesn't count!

think you are spot on (technically). see my post # 5

cheers,