Why a boat?
Since the first people walked to the banks of a river or the shore of a lake and wondered how to get to the other side, boats have been a part of life. Of course the first boats were crude rafts of bamboo or tree limbs, or maybe a hollowed out log. Early canoes and boats were also made of animal skins. Today the boat is sometimes a complex, accessory-laden craft. But it still gives us the simple pleasure of floating on the water. At www.OnlineBoatingIndex.com, you can find out much more about boats and how to enjoy pleasure boating safely.
What’s in a name?
The word “boat” means a vessel constructed to transport people and items over water. The boat must also be stable and should be easy to move across the water by some method. By contrast, a ship is a large, ocean-going vessel, usually propelled by sails or an engine. Going back into history, the word comes from the German “bot,” which originally meant the goods or item delivered. Later this came to stand for the craft used to make the delivery.
The smallest boats
There are dozens, maybe hundreds of different kinds of boats. About 80 percent of all boats in industrialized countries are used for pleasure. These are ski boats, speedboats, yachts and pontoon boats. A number of non-motorized boats, such as the johnboat, canoe and dinghy are very popular for small lakes and streams. Fishing boats range from tiny one-person craft to expensive bass boats and ocean trawlers.
Sailboats (Day Boats)
The sailboat category can include the smallest one-person boat, meant for some leisurely floating on a lake or calm harbor, or a sailboat can be an ocean-going yacht with all the comforts of home. In addition, the catamaran has become quite popular for those who want a little speed and a lot of freedom on the water.
Fishing boats
This type of boat has been the subject of numerous volumes. Fishing boats have become quite specialized. Some are used strictly for bass fishing, others are designed to be ocean fishing factories.
The country club atmosphere
Some folks have decided to live on the water and get a houseboat for this very purpose. These floating homes have all the necessities for an extended stay on the lake or in the harbor. Many have more accessories and luxuries than the average home on land.
A way to learn more
At www.onlineboatingindex.com/ebook.html, you can get the eBook, “Enjoy Your Boat: A Guide To Safe Boating,” and find out more about the world of pleasure boating.
Watch for next week’s tip:
Yachts
This entry was posted on Monday, August 13th, 2007 at 10:33 am and is filed under Boating. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.