| From the first time that people used bamboo | | | | world. But the focus here is on a few types that |
| rafts and hollowed-out logs to travel across a lake | | | | might fall under the general category of pleasure |
| or down a stream, boats have been a major part | | | | or recreation boats. This will allow the reader to |
| of life. Handcrafted wooden boats were used on | | | | learn about categories such as shopping for a |
| local lakes and rivers for fishing and pleasure. The | | | | boat, transporting and storing a boat, insurance |
| first boats made of synthetic material such as | | | | and maintenance without being overwhelmed by |
| fibreglass, as well as the luxurious and very fast | | | | the thousands of details that separate one type |
| pleasure boats of today, give people a way to | | | | of boat from another. In addition, looking at |
| escape the everyday routine. This is one of the | | | | pleasure/recreation craft such as ski boats, speed |
| major uses for boats in the United Kingdom, and | | | | performance boats and pontoon boats, we will be |
| our modern world.But exactly what is a boat? | | | | concentrating on a very popular type of craft |
| Why is a boat such a popular, and necessary, part | | | | that falls in the low to mid-range of prices. |
| of our lives? Perhaps it would be best to look at | | | | First, a list of some of the different types and |
| just where the term "boat" comes from and | | | | sizes of watercraft, many of which have very |
| what makes a boat a boat, instead of a canoe or | | | | special or limited uses that distinguish them from |
| a ship. Today, the word "boat" means a vessel | | | | the ski boats, speed/performance boats, pontoon |
| constructed to transport people and items over | | | | boats and deck boats. |
| water. This vessel must provide buoyancy by | | | | - Dinghy Usually 10 feet long or less, light and |
| excluding water. The boat should be stable and | | | | portable. For use close to shore, in a small harbor |
| easy to move across the water, propelled by any | | | | area or on the lake. |
| available method. | | | | - Jon Boat or Johnboat A smaller boat used for |
| By contrast, a ship is a large, ocean-going vessel, | | | | many purposes, such as fishing, hunting. Most |
| usually propelled by sails or an engine. But going | | | | boats of this type are propelled by a small |
| back into history, the word comes from the | | | | outboard motor. |
| German "bot," which originally meant the goods or | | | | - Small Sailboats or Day Boats This is a recreation |
| item delivered. Later this came to stand for the | | | | boat for use on small lakes or for sailing close to |
| craft used to make the delivery. According to | | | | shore on the ocean. Normally, less than 20 feet in |
| statistics, 85% of all powerboats in the UK are | | | | length. |
| less than 26 ft. long. We will be focusing on this | | | | - Fishing Boats This category can include bass |
| general type of boat, the small and mid-size craft | | | | boats, smaller family fishing/pleasure boats, |
| that people use for pleasure and transportation. In | | | | trawler-style boats, sport fishing boats, |
| doing this, information provided on financing, | | | | combination fish/ski boats etc. There are dozens |
| insurance, storage, general maintenance might be | | | | of different designs and special uses for fishing |
| useful for all types of boats. Fishing boats and | | | | boats. |
| equipment cannot be adequately covered in the | | | | - Larger Sailboats and Catamarans This type of |
| same text as pleasure boats, because the | | | | boat can be used for longer distances, for racing |
| subject is so very large and complex. It is | | | | and for pleasure. |
| probably best to leave the fishing boat category | | | | - Houseboats Designed for living on the water. |
| for another time. We will take a brief look at | | | | Quite different from even the most elaborate |
| yachts to provide some perspective on just how | | | | pontoon boat or deck boat. |
| they differ from pleasure boats, ski boats and | | | | - Flatboats Generally used for sports such as |
| party boats such as the pontoon and deck boats | | | | fishing and hunting. |
| that have become so popular. There is nothing - | | | | This is not meant to be a complete list of the |
| absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as | | | | types of boats other than ski boats and pontoon |
| messing about in boats. | | | | boats. But it sets the stage for a closer look at |
| There are many, many different watercraft that | | | | some very popular watercraft. Obviously, the |
| go by the name "boat." In fact, the list contains | | | | luxurious world of yachting comes to mind... |
| dozens of different names from around the | | | | |