The
first step in choosing a boat is to make sure it is for the purpose intended.
You
would not expect a small boat to sail across the Atlantic and equally you would
not expect a small un-motorised boat to pull a water skier.
All
boats are designed with a particular use in mind and as such boats come in many different sizes, designs and configurations.
The original definition of a 'Yacht' was a fast, light weight boat, used to carry VIPs. Today it has a looser definition and means, any vessel, excluding a dinghy, propelled by either motor or sail (or both), that is used for either yacht racing or pleasure cruising.
The
definition of a motorboat is a boat that is propelled by mechanical propulsion. Craft
such as jet skies are in the same category as a motorboat but come under the
sub heading of personal watercraft.
Large sailing
vessels such as trawlers are considered to be displacement vessels. This type
of hull design will ride comfortably although slowly through the water. This
type of vessel also requires the minimum amount of propulsion.
A planing vessel
is designed to rise on the surface of the water when power is supplied. This
design requires much more power to plane but achieves a faster speed than
other designs, due to reduced friction from the water to the hull of the boat
A submarine, also classed as a boat, operates beneath the water. Perhaps the most extensive use of submarines is by the world’s navies. They are also used for scientific purposes (exploration etc.) and for work at great depths.