"Answer to QUESTION...SIZE DIFFERENCE ON SHIPS OR BOATS"

At our recent Club Meeting, prior to going on the Boat Tour, the question was raised, what is the difference between a Boat and a Ship??? This seemingly innocent issue soon erupted into a hot debate between a bunch of Old Fart’s. Before we needed to call for medical assistance, I suggested I would put the “Question” before someone who could give us a definitive answer.

Here is the response I got from the USCG Station Operations Officer. The “difference” is 65 feet. In the Coast Guard & Navy, vessels are called Boats up to the length of 65 feet. At 66 feet they are formally named and called Ships. If you really want to stump the guys ask them which 4 boats are the only ones in the Coast Guard under 65 feet that are named ????
(4 of our 52 footers are all named and 1 of them is here in Newport)