A “boat” is a watercraft of any size but generally is used to indicate a small craft. A “ship” is a large, seagoing vessel.
The word “boat” is used, however, in some words that apply to large craft. For example,
- Ferryboat
- PT boat
Use “it,” not the pronoun “she,” in references to boats and ships.
Use Arabic or Roman numerals in the names of boats and ships. For example,
- the Queen Elizabeth 2, or QE2
- Titan I
- Titan II
The reference for military ships is Jane’s Fighting Ships; for nonmilitary ships, IHS Fairplay Register of Ships.
See also AP Style Numbers.