Boat Facts

• Large watercraft are generally called ships.
• Smaller watercraft are generally called boats.
• They are designed to float on water, whether it be in lakes, rivers or seas.
• Boats and ships serve a variety of purposes including transport, recreation, fishing, sporting competition and military operations.
• Some boats are human powered, including kayaks, canoes and gondolas.
• Sailboats are propelled by wind and sails.
• The tall upright post on a sailboat is called a mast.
• Motorboats are propelled by engines.
• Cargo ships carry goods between ports around the world.
• The hull is the main body of a boat or ship.
• Starboard and port are nautical terms which describe the left (starboard) and right (port) sides when facing the the front (bow) of a ship or boat.
• The rear part of a ship or boat is called the stern.
• The America’s Cup is awarded to the winner of a series of races between sailing yachts. Originally awarded in 1851, it is the oldest international sporting trophy in the world.
• Some luxury yachts (also called superyachts or megayachts) are over 70 metres (230 feet) in length with the longest examples reaching over 150 metres (492 feet).