What kinds of boats are there?

Question

what are the types of boats, and the name of the type? how are these different from each other?

Answer 1

That's such a broad question I'm hesitant to answer but on the chance you might be serious I will give it a try.

First off, 'What are the types of boats?"  Wikipedia lists 108  'types' of boats at this site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat (Click on each one for a description.)  Bear in mind these are just the more common types.  The lest could be expanded.

The types as listed are distinguished by their use and propulsion.  It's fair to say a prerequisite of being a boat is it has to transport something.  A floating platform anchored in a lake would be considered a 'dock' like a swimming dock.  But the same platform if used to transport people across a stream could be called a ferry.  If it were used to float down a river, simply using current or a pole for propulsion it would be a raft.

If you want a basic definition of types it creates several categories which can influence each in identifying a specific boat.  

1.  Usage: Commercial, passenger or cargo, Pleasure, for personal use, Utilitarian, designated service like, life boat, pilot boat or pump barge.

2.  Propulsion: Row Boat, includes skiff, dowry, Power Boat, can be inboard, out board or a combination, Sail Boat, uses sails to convert wind energy to boat movement.  This creates an overturning force and tends to push the boat down wind so;

2a.  Sail boats are further divided to Keel, fixed or swing, Centerboard, normally on planing hull (item 3), Multi Hull (item 3) or Outrigger, uses counter weight extended out to maintain balance,

3.  Type of Hull:  Displacement Hull, displaces an amount of water equal to vessel weight (i.e. floats) regardless of the vessel speed.  Planing Hull, relatively flat bottom will rise above the water like a water skier would.  Once on plane it uses less power to maintain speed.  Mono Hull or Multi Hull describes the boat having one or more hulls providing flotation and stability

As you can see there are many ways to answer your question, I've just scratched the surface.  But I hope I've given you enough information for you to understand what you need to ask to find the information you want.

Good Luck