[Mrs Linda Kent]

I don't know if this is true, hence why I'm here, but I was always taught that a ship's hull sits above the waterline, while a boat's hull sits underneath. here

[ruenma7411]

The water vehicle is made from bamboo, has a mast and is a private ocean vehicle with sleeping quarters, kitchen and some other perks i forget and not a cargo/fishing/oil/aircraft carrier etc. Oh, and it's probably about 10-15m long *eye ruler.* anon87456 May 30, 2010 more

[Slayer]

I'm not sure of that, but the difference could lie in the presence or absence of funnels. that could be the reason why submarines were called boats regardless of size. anon122924 October 30, 2010 more

[tomkfischer]

There is a more technical definition:

[francc4iss96]

A Master Sergeant told a Master Chief Petty Officer, "The Army has got more boats than the Navy." The Master Chief replied, "You put gravy in a boat." anon285861 August 17, 2012

[BeeCee1]

A place where passengers are transported across water in such a ship.

[Loki]

‘Being a good waiter takes more than the ability to ferry plates of food around a restaurant.’;

[hopelore]

‘Trucks plowed through the water to ferry flood victims to safety.’;

[gigitrix]

The Supreme Court ruled last week in the case of Fane Lozman vs the City of Riviera Beach, Florida. They decided that Lozman’s 60-foot, two-story, motorless, rudderless floating home was not a boat or a vessel, and hence should not have been seized under maritime law and destroyed by the city.

[denaje]

Back in the Age of Sail, a ship was pretty well defined as a vessel with three or more square rigged masts. As different methods of power generation replaced wind and sail, the ships of old became more specifically known as “sailing ships,” and the usage of ship broadened to cover a wide, ill-defined variety of vessels.

[virgo20]

One of the quickest ways to reveal yourself as a landlubber is to refer to a ship as a boat, but there’s no absolute distinction between the two, and even experienced mariners rely on local custom and usage to differentiate them.

[spidr_mnky]

Basically, a ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship. more

[gue5tgue5t]

I should also note that the Knorr has a small boat attached to it (correction, two small boats), which means she can definitely carry a boat. Thus, it's a ship. So, from now on, the R/V Knorr will take her proper place as a ship on this blog, and not a boat.

[leryn17]

What's the difference between a boat and a ship? Jenny from Walla Walla Washington more

[randomguy7]

Or, if you prefer you analogies in LEGO form. more