Boats

Fun Facts About Boats

• Sailboats can move without wind pushing them. Their sails work like airplane wings, creating lift that pulls the boat forward. That's why sailboats can move across or even against the wind.
• A ship is generally defined as a large, ocean-going vessel and much bigger than a boat. A ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship.
• While modern submarines fit the definition of a ship based on their size and range, they are traditionally called boats because historically the first submarines were tiny and launched from ships.
• Icebreakers ride up on ice. Their heavily reinforced hulls crush ice by weight rather than cutting through it.
• Boats traditionally have female pronouns because ancient sailors viewed them as protectors at sea.
• Houseboats date back centuries. The pharaohs used them on the Nile, while the "boat people" of ancient China built them to live on coastal waters over 1,300 years ago.
• Speedboats don't push through water. At high speed, they ride on top of the water, significantly reducing drag and allowing for much higher velocities.
• Ferries are public transportation on water, some carrying thousands of passengers every day. The Staten Island Ferry in New York City, which operates 24/7, is often cited as the world's busiest, transporting over 16 million people annually.