Ship/Boat

[SC00BY]

Does anyone know the difference between a ship and a boat? is there a difference?

[Quizmonster]

It always used to be said that "You can get a boat on a ship but you can't get a ship on a boat." However, that is no longer true. A couple of years ago a Royal Navy vessel - definitely a 'ship' - ran aground off Australia and it was carried back to the UK on a civilian salvage vessel which would certainly qualify as a 'boat'.

All Royal Navy vessels are called 'ships'...except for submarines, which are always called 'boats'! Is that clear?

In modern usage, there really is no real difference in the meanings of the words, when speaking of large vessels. Of course, the little thing you row on the lake in the park will always be a boat.

[mr. piper]

also, the word ship tends to be used when it is a non specific class of medium to large size.

boat is used when a classification is also stated or inferred. so an old salt like myself has noted!

[Glossopswift]

I wonder if you can get 'boatwrecked'?

[Skids]

Ships have lifeboats, boats do not.

[Quizmonster]

Of course boats have lifeboats! I know several people who spent years working on passenger vessels belonging to various shipping lines such as Castle, P & O, Cunard etc. Every single one of them refers to their time "on the Castle boats" etc. And you may rest assured that every single "Castle boat" had its complement of lifeboats.