What is the difference between a captain and a skipper?

Answer 1

A skipper is a person who has command of a boat or ship, more or less equivalent to "captain." At sea, the skipper has absolute command over the crew. The skipper may or may not be the owner of the boat.

The word "skipper" is used more than "captain" for some types of craft, for example fishing boats.

It is also more frequently used than captain with privately-owned noncommercial vessels, such as small yachts and other recreational boats, mostly in cases where the person in command of the boat is likely not a licensed or professional captain, suggesting the term is less formal.

A Ship's Captain must have a Master Mariner's license, issued by the ship's flag state.