Was it the difference between boat and ship? Easily explained.
If you come out as a landlubber to a sailor, you only have to own his ship as a boat. The difference between a boat and a ship that is covered in this article so that you are spared the faux pas.
Ship vs boat – you’ll always be right
The definition of what exactly is called a boat and what is called a ship is not entirely uniform and has changed over time.
- In the past, the number of masts was decisive for sailing boats or sailing ships, for example. A watercraft that had more than two masts was called a sailing ship. Everything else was sailing boats.
- In the case of war watercraft, the designation was dependent on the crew. If there was a first officer on board, it was a warship, otherwise it was a warboat.
- Ultimately, however, the size of the watercraft plays an important role in all definitions. Ten masts cannot fit on a small sailboat and a rowboat does not need a first officer.
- The Federal Court of Justice sees it similarly. Accordingly, a ship has a certain size and also has a cavity.
- There are various other fine distinctions, but basically it is enough if you remember: A ship is not insignificant in size, in contrast to a boat, and a corresponding crew usually operates on board.
- Tip: If you are still unsure, it is better to speak of a ship than a boat. This is becoming more and more popular with the owners and crew members.