Boat Types

Vocabulary activity

Is It A Boat Or A Ship? A boat is a vehicle of any size that is used for traveling on water. Usually refered to as one smaller in size. A ship is a large boat used for traveling long distances over the sea, and also a large airplane or spacecraft. So, the word boat as a category includes ships, kayaks and even jet skis. However speaking of the size, people traditionally consider a ship as large, whereas boats are comparatively smaller. A good rule to remember is that “A ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship.” Also, the use of the terms depends on the region. People from several countries often refer to a medium sized fishing vehicle as a boat, or a medium sized ferry or recreational boat as a ship.

Read the boat types and descriptions and match the boat to the picture.

Here is an example:

Rowboat: a small boat that is moved through water using oars.  

Barge: a large boat that has a flat bottom and that is used to carry goods in harbors and on rivers and canals

Canoe: a long narrow boat that is pointed at both ends and that is moved by a paddle.

Cruise liner: a large comfortable ship that people travel on vacation trips.

Ferry: a boat that is used to carry people and things for a short distance between two places : a boat that ferries people and things

Freighter: a large ship that is used to carry goods, usually across the ocean.

Galleon: a large sailing ship used in the 1500s and 1600s.

Houseboat: a boat that is also used as a house.

Motorboat: a boat with an engine.

Raft: a rubber boat or a floating structure made of wood used for transportation on water

Sailboat: a small boat that the wind moves by pushing its clothes sails.

Steamboat: a boat that is powered by steam.

Warship: a military ship that has many weapons and is used for fighting in wars.

Answers here!