Schiff - Boot

English translation: Boat

14:06 Jan 21, 2007

German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Ships, Sailing, Maritime / General

German term or phrase: Schiff - Boot

This probably sounds strange, but I have a text that uses the word "Schiffe" in places where I would automatically call it a boat. I know we Americans are used to super-sizes that aren't typical in Europe, but...these are vessels approx. 10.5 m in length. According to European regulations, does anyone know at what length a boat becomes a ship?

Susan Zimmer KudoZ activity Questions: 65 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (3 closed without grading) Answers: 887 United States
Local time: 22:06

English translation:Boat

Explanation:
I don't know European regulations, but when I was a Royal Navy Cadet we had to take a proficiency exam and under British regulations a boat is under 40 feet in length and a ship is over 40 feet so if they are 10.5m then in the UK at least they would be boats. Assuming of course that they are non-military because if they are military then they are vessels !
Obviously if it's a simple general tourist text then you don't have to be so technical, but I understand your desire for accuracy !

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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-01-21 16:27:33 GMT)
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I agree with you that I would tend to call a 50 foot yacht a boat as well, but technically it actually is a ship!

As in everything, there is widespread popular useage, often based on misconception or misunderstanding, and then there is what is technically correct. Only you can judge the right one to use given the nature of your text. Good luck

Selected response from:

Mark Solomon
Spain
Local time: 04:06

Grading comment

Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +5

ship

Edith Kelly

5 +3

Boat

Mark Solomon

3 +2

comment

Ken Cox

Discussion entries: 8

Susan Zimmer

United States

ASKER

17:05 Jan 22, 2007

oh, so sorry, got caught up in other things....well, I'm sticking with boat, seems we all agree on that. The idea of a "ship" on these small lakes just doesn't work in my mind. The context, as said, is a boat charter company in a German lake region. Throughout the text, the company switches back and forth between "Boote" and "Schiffe". Mark's info on the lengths of boats is what I was looking for. My research about "Motorbootschein" and "Segelschein" only showed that for the most part, the discussion is about "Boote", not "Schiffe". I did find on Wikipedia a reference to weight classes in distinguishing the difference, and the reference to any size boat in warfare as being called "ship". Plus I found a note saying that many private skippers in Germany like to refer to their boats as "Schiffe", just to make them stand out more...Thank you everyone!!! Edith, I know you came up with boat first, but I was looking for verfication on at what point a boat becomes a ship. But I did find your explanation interesting. Thanks so much!

Francis Lee (X)

16:55 Jan 22, 2007

Hello-oo ...

Francis Lee (X)

20:16 Jan 21, 2007

This American would probably say "boat" - but what's the context/readership for this translation and what has your own research turned up?

Edith Kelly

Switzerland

15:06 Jan 21, 2007

My answer is boat - I changed it as this is 100% obvious after you posted your first note - was not obvious from your original question ... Context is really important.

Susan Zimmer

United States

ASKER

14:28 Jan 21, 2007

I mean, of course, "in accordance with"...sorry

Susan Zimmer

United States

ASKER

14:21 Jan 21, 2007

Maybe just in accordance to German regulations. I believe for boating licenses there are size limits to a boat.....

Susan Zimmer

United States

ASKER

14:14 Jan 21, 2007

No, this is a marketing text for a boat charter company.

Ken Cox

14:11 Jan 21, 2007

Is the term being used in context in which European regulations (if there are any relevant regulations) would apply?

Answers

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

ship

Explanation:
Das Wort Boot wird eigentlich nur für kleine "Schiffe" verwendet, Ruderboot, Fischerboot. Wenn man Schiff liest, kann das alles sein, was etwas größer als ein Boot ist. Man kann also getrost dem Gefühl folgen. IMO gibt es da keine europäische Regelung.

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Note added at 10 mins (2007-01-21 14:16:58 GMT)
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also aufgrund der Anmerkung. Use the word "boat" in your context. The German "Schiffe" is ok for a boat charter company.

Edith Kelly
Switzerland
Local time: 04:06
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 35

Notes to answerer

Asker: Hi, are you guys agreeing to Edith's first answer "ship" or her second answer "boat"?

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

comment

Explanation:
I'd say 'boat' in your case. I doubt that any vessel for personal use would ever be called a ship -- you have sailboats, motor boats, fishing boats, tour boats, diving boats, etc, and big boats for personal use are usually called yachts.

FWIW, the Oxford dictionary defines a ship as 'a large boat for transporting people or goods by sea. a spaceship. an aircraft' and a boat as 'a small vessel for travelling over water, propelled by oars, sails, or an engine'.

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-01-21 16:00:56 GMT)
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Make that 'private or personal use'.

Ken Cox
Local time: 04:06
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 31

47 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

Boat

Mark Solomon
Spain
Local time: 04:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks!

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks, Mark! writeaway, the question was actually at which length does a boat become a ship in Europe. So Mark's answer is very helpful....Growing up, we had a 38 foot sail boat, I would never have called it, or our neighbor's 50 foot yacht, a ship...

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Schiff - Boot

English translation: Boat

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