Coast Guard / Navy....Please enlighten me as to what vessels you consider a ship? or a boat?

SrA Jeff Campbell — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:35:36 -0400

I used to hear this argued a lot when I was stationed at Guantanamo Bay and working with Navy personnel.....clear up the confusion please!!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 25 at 2014 9:25 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 21:25:29 -0400

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member or PO1 Private RallyPoint Member I believe your infinite wisdom is needed here.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2014 12:13 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:13:26 -0400

I thought a ship could carry a boat. Hence submarines are only boats but aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and frigates are ships. The problem with that definition is a little riverine boat/ship that only has an inflatable life raft could cause debate...

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2014 12:43 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:43:32 -0400

Here we go..... The original definition of a boat was: "small boat powered by oars or jolly boat".... I will let you google that. Submarines were originally called boats because the first of their types were actually carried on board ships until they were deployed. As time went on the submarines got bigger but nobody in the Navy felt the need to change the terminology - especially those submarine types. So, technically, a submarine (a boat) can and does carry a "jolly boat"......but who's counting?

Riverine craft are boats - by definition. The riverine folks want them called "craft"...but they're boats. Common sense says one should carry an inflatable boat on a riverine craft - so many do.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2014 11:01 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 11:01:36 -0400

If it's a submarine, it's a boat. If it's not a submarine, it's a target.

Response by PO3 John Jeter made Jul 26 at 2014 1:20 PM

PO3 John Jeter — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 13:20:37 -0400

I was originally told that "A ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship." With the advent of heavy lift vessels, the absolutism of that definition no longer carries. (Submariners have always been a bit odd, so we really just let them go their own way. I think it has something to do with listening to too much cetacean gossip.........) *grin*

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2014 11:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 11:00:22 -0400

the coast guard has boats (less than 65 feet) and cutters (65+ feet).

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 7 at 2014 12:51 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 00:51:38 -0400

A boat can fit on a ship, a ship cannot fit on a boat...

http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/life-at-sea/7-differences-between-a-ship-and-a-boat/

7 Differences Between a Ship and a Boat

The difference between a ship and a boat is always a hot topic of discussion among people. Mentioned herein are seven main aspects which help to differentiate between a ship and a boat.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2014 10:59 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 22:59:17 -0400

There's a difference? I guess it's the same in the Army. When people see a Bradley IFV they call it a tank and it is clearly not.

Response by PO2 Corrin Keeler made Sep 8 at 2014 10:08 AM

PO2 Corrin Keeler — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 10:08:57 -0400

A ship can carry a boat, but a boat can never carry a ship. Ships operate in oceanic areas and high seas, where boats are typically confined to lakes, rivers or near the coastline. A mode of water transport that weighs at least 500 tonnes or above is categorized as a ship. The only exception to this is a submarine. Submarines were originally carried by ships and were therefore classified as a boat.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 8 at 2014 11:09 PM

SGT Richard H. — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 23:09:18 -0400

I'm neither Coast Guard or Navy, but I think I can help.....

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2014 12:24 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:24:36 -0400

One of my Captains famously said "if you don't want to call our ship a boat go ahead, people on boats don't get Sea Pay. I guess you don't want your Sea Pay?" No Captain I am definitely on A ship! Also not all Coast Guard cutters hug the coast. I have Order of Magellan for going around the world on Coast Guard cutter.

Response by CWO3 Mike Lutz made Sep 29 at 2014 11:58 AM

CWO3 Mike Lutz — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:58:40 -0400

In the Coast Guard, a BOAT is a vessel less than 65 feet, A SHIP is a vessel 65 feet or greater in length. I understand the Navy refers to submarines as boats, and in the Great Lakes EVERYTHING is a boat.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 12:34 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:34:50 -0500

SSG V. Michelle Woods Anytime you want to go from Green to Blue we would be honored and pleased to have you.

1LT Sandy Annala I am with SSG V. Michelle Woods you are a great asset and your knowledge and input is the best.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 1:05 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 01:05:32 -0500

I think this is a ship in the Coast Guard

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 1:42 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:42:12 -0500

Well, let me add to the conversation. The picture shows a ship & a boat. The ship in question is the USS Anchorage (LPD-23). The boat in the picture is being carried and is probably one of two, carried on the port and starboard side. In the picture, the starboard Rigid Hull Inflatabe Boat (RHIB) is just aft of the air intake and immediately below one of the exhaust stacks.

Hopefully, even for you non-Navy pukes, this should be perfectly clear and understandable.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 2:30 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:30:51 -0500

Before liberty call and the impending alcoholic excursion it's the ship. After liberty it's the boat. As in "god I hope I can make it back to the boat!"

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 18 at 2014 2:41 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:41:54 -0500

You can't put a boat on a ship, you cant put a ship on a boat.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Nov 18 at 2014 11:49 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 23:49:23 -0500

Back in the 80's, we were taught in the Submarine Service that around the beginning of WWI, the criteria was an official name, such as the SS St. Louis, or the USS Arizona. Since the Navy refused to recognize that the submarines of the day were worthy of naming, they were just given numbers - S14, R18, etc. Therefore, they were referred to as "boats".

In THAT context, "Ships" are "christened" with official names, "Boats" are not. This is also applicable to "boats" carried on "ships". I don't know whether USCG vessels follow the same process.

HOWEVER... Submariners have always referred to the metal beasts as "boats" to tie our current heritage back to those WWI vessels. The first class of US submarines that were given official names was the USS Barracuda in 1921. All follow-up US Navy submarines have official US Navy names.

REGARDLESS: There are two kinds of "ships" in the world... Submarines and Targets (affectionately referred to as Harpoon Catchers or Torpedo Prey).

Here endth the lesson... 7;^D

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 12:06 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:06:32 -0500

Why is cargo transported on ships and shipments transported by car?

Why do we park on a driveway and drive on a parkway?

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 2:24 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:24:09 -0500

I was told it had to do with seaworthiness, but I'm just an air dale that called my ship a boat as a term of endearment. As explained to me subs were not seaworthy as they sank intentionally. That's also why they were all given the names of sunken battleships.

Response by SCPO Larry Knight Sr. made Nov 22 at 2014 8:58 AM

SCPO Larry Knight Sr. — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 08:58:25 -0500

There are two types of Naval Personnel, Surface Warfare and Submarine Warfare........ So when you see these abbreviations U. S. S. and SS you begin to form somewhat of a clearer picture (United States Ship and Submarine Service) , hence the Surface Navy has ships and the other is a boat ! The other vessels on board ships are considered small craft ie; Captains GIG or Admirals Barge, LCVP's, LCM's MK-8's etc. During Vietnam we had the Brown Water Navy and they utilized PBR's and Swift Boats.

The Coast Guard has their own terminology which isn't reflected upon the United States Navy, and bares no resemblance hence forth. We could go on for days on all the different class' of ships and submarines, but that is a totally different subject altogether.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Nov 26 at 2014 11:18 AM

SA Harold Hansmann — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:18:37 -0500

The Navy has Ships and the Coast Guard have Boats.
Bwaaaaa haaaaaaa haaaaaa
Just kidding

Response by PO1 Jeffrey Stoddard made Apr 4 at 2015 11:50 AM

PO1 Jeffrey Stoddard — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 11:50:51 -0400

From what I was told, any vessel 65' and above is classified as a Ship.
below 65' is a boat.

Response by PO1 Bill Adams made Dec 31 at 2015 3:00 PM

PO1 Bill Adams — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 15:00:46 -0500

My mind is blown.

Response by PO3 William Carrien made Mar 5 at 2018 3:58 AM

PO3 William Carrien — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 03:58:52 -0500

Ok, here it is in a nutshell. You can put a boat on a ship, but can't put a ship on a boat with 1 exception, submarines will always be considered boats.

Response by PO1 Kevin Blood made Feb 24 at 2020 2:24 AM

PO1 Kevin Blood — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 02:24:19 -0500

A ship is 65' and above, and a boat is less than 65'.