A Boat is essentially a small ship.
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Directly from the Dictionary: "a small ship, generally for specialized use: a fishing boat."
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/33749589@N07/3174995122/
A ship in the dictionary is defined as...
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a vessel, esp. a large oceangoing one propelled by sails or engines.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/33749589@N07/3174996948/
Source(s):
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Boat
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Ship

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A ship is over 300 feet in length, where a boat is less than 300 ft. in length. - maybe false.

The distinction between a ship and a boat varies depending on regional definitions, but as a general rule, a boat can fit onto a ship, but a ship cannot fit onto a boat. A ship, in other words, is a very large ocean-going vessel, while a boat tends to be much smaller. Additionally, a ship usually is defined as having a displacement larger than 500 tons. During the age of sailing, a craft with three or more rigged masts was considered to be a ship, but this definition has been superseded, as different methods of power generation are used on modern ships. - FROM WISEGEEK

According to the Navy sailor who conducted our tour, "the difference between a ship and a boat is that you can put boats on a ship, but you can't put ships on a boat. But submarines are always boats." - from second link
Source(s):
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-ship-and-a-boat.ht...

http://windom.cybox.com/logs/1999/05.28.html

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From "Chapman Piloting: Seamanship & Boat Handling (63rd Edition)", the mariner's bible for all things maritime -- though there is no official difference, the line is generally drawn at 20 meters (or, about 60 feet), at which point a "boat" becomes a "ship," though neither designation in incorrect for any length.
Source(s):
http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=489

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The definition I learned was: A boat can be carried on a ship but a ship can never be carried on a boat.
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I believe a boat has no mast and a ship does.
Source(s):
random knowledge.

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