Question of the day

[jearwood]

10 points to the first person who can tell me what the difference is between a boat and a ship. I'll give 20 points (they are quite valuable) to whomever can give me both the modern day difference and the age of sail difference. It doesn't count if you Google it.

 

[jearwood]

No-one? I'll give you a hint. A sloop is a sloop, a xebec is a xebec, a cutter is a cutter... They are all boats. But a ship is a ship.

 

[rupertlittlebear]

You can stand up in a ship

a ship carries a boat

 

[jearwood]

You can stand up in a ship

a ship carries a boat

10 points to rupertlittlebear. Anyone care to go for the 20?

 

[jearwood]

Okay. Another hint. What does it mean to be "ship rigged"?

We got the modern day explanation, now what makes a rated ship a ship?

 

[Fred Bob]

It be havin' itself square sails, an' not be lateen-rigged? :?

 

[mjh623]

Three masted, carrying courses, tops and royals at least on all three masts.

 

[carmenara]

A full ship rig also includes jibs and/or stays flown as specified by sail-plan or need (assist with upwind sailing / tacking?), with a fore-and-aft spanker on the mizzen (for maneuverability?)


Some qns of my own:

I've recently got a nice explanation of the difference between a Snow and a Brig in the modeling forum (big muchos gracias!), but what is the difference between a ship rig and a barque rig? I do notice that on a barque, the square sails can be rotated over 90 degrees from centreline. Why is it considered "the most efficient sailing plan" for a ship?