What makes the difference between a "Boat" and a "Ship".?

A boat, traditionally speaking, is a vessel that can be taken aboard a larger vessel. It works with a submarine in that they can be taken aboard a sub tender. However, I tend to think of a ferry as a "boat" too (I live near Puget Sound...), and I don't know of any vessel that could take one of THOSE on board! However, the tradition is there, for what it's worth. Now ya know ;-)

per the National Martime Museum the difference is :

The Historic Ships Committee have designated a vessel below 40 tons and 40 feet in length as a boat. However, submarines and fishing vessels are always known as boats whatever their size.

works for me pat

I think in general boats are considered smaller by comparison. That, and ships are usually used at sea or in the ocean, where as how many ships go on ponds and lakes?

I guess it comes down to usage and size. Ferries are mostly freshwater and don't go too terribly far, thus they are boats. Subs...well..I know they were first used in small channels and bays, so maybe their original usage have given them the boat stigma =).

According to Sunseeker (the ship yard that builds more boats/ships per year than any other) anything they build over 100 feet long is a called a ship.

To me this is an irrelevant question - I give way to all of them in my 28 foot sailboat!!

Cheers Bigpathome.

Two things - size and purpose.

Ships are usually a large commercial vessels - oil tankers, cargo vessels and cruise liners.

Boats are small ones, usually made for fun and having loa less than 30 feets

you can put a boat on a ship but u cant but a ship on a boat