When does a boat become a ship?

Question

When does a boat become a ship?

Answer 1

One definition that goes around is that you can fit a boat inside a ship, but you can't fit a ship inside a boat.

Answer 2

The rule of old was 75 feet in length or 50 tons of displacement.

The dictionary defines that it occurs when a vessel is designed for deep water travel or commerce.

Answer 3

I think the tipping point is when you put a life boat on the ship in case the ship sinks...  

Answer 4

Technically... a boat is not a ship until it reaches a minimum of 75 feet. Under 75' it is "correctly" referred to as its "type" of boat - ie: tug, cruiser, trawler, shrimp, etc. etc.

     "Yachts" however - are a whole different ball game -

     "Yachts" technically (or at least used to be) are a minimum of 50 feet, and are "very luxuriously" appointed - and obviously privately owned by someone really wealthy - and used primarily as recreational vessels.   Again here, under 50' and regardless of its luxury or lack thereof - the vessel is "correctly" referred to as its "type" - ie: sloop, cutter, cruiser, trawler, etc.

     In the "olden" days (as my kids refer to them) The Coast Guard, Harbor Master, Lock Master, as well as other "boaters" would refer to all vessels correctly - based on its proper type.  You seldom ever saw a "yacht" so, you seldom ever heard a boat hailed on the radio as one.

Nowdays however, most of the above (except for the old timers (like me) will refer to almost anything (no matter what kind or size) as a "yacht"...

     I guess now that "Mega-Yachts" are here - anything smaller qualifies as is a "yacht" - even though it many look more like a 20 foot floating cruising cargo crate.

     My boat "SummerWind" has been hailed by the Coast Guard, Harbor Masters, Lock Masters and other boaters, as both a yacht and a ship, ie: "the ship SUMMERWIND" or "THE YACHT SUMMERWIND" - but believe me - it is neither. But you can see it at:

http://boatwrights.org/

Happy & Safe Boating!

Answer 5

Ships have boats on board.

Answer 6

when it is not a boat anymore

Answer 7

i think  boats  are  several  small  size  than  the  ships.so  its  a little  impossible  for the boats  to  become  a  ship.  such a cute  question.

Answer 8

when you decide to start calling it a ship and give it a name

i think most boats are smaller than most ships though

Answer 9

For purposes of licensing and certification in the US, up to 500 gross registered tons is a boat, 500-1600 grt may be classified as a (very) large boat or a (very) small ship, greater than 1600 grt is usually a ship. As a very rough estimate, a 500 grt boat might be 200' long. A submarine is always a boat, even if it's the size of a battleship.

Answer 10

from WikiAnswers...

Size is not the only determinant. Boats are usually used either on rivers or lakes, or near the coast, and rarely make transoceanic voyages. Boats also are usually specialized (fishing, yachting, etc.). A ship is larger and has one continuous main deck. Older definitions refer to the type, size and number of sails, but that's old-fashioned.