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