Boat nomenclature

There is quite an elaborate way of categorizing boats. A very large category diagram can be generated that keeps further describing and breaking each category to sub categories. It is like looking at an evolution chart of animals evolving. 

Starting with “Boats” at the top, boats are first subdivided by the basic means of propulsion. These are: Powerboats, Sailboats and Rowboats.  The term Motorboat may be interchangeable with Powerboat.

Powerboats are considered either gasoline or diesel engines. A sailboat with an Auxiliary Engine is called an Auxiliary and is legally considered a powerboat. A Motorsailer is a sub category of Auxiliary and is a boat which uses a reduced amount of sail and has a bigger motor to compensate for the reduced sail area.

A Trawler is a subcategory of powerboats but may have a small steadying sail.

Other subcategories of powerboats are: Cruiser, Outboard Cruiser, Inboard Cruiser, Houseboats and a list of many others. Each of these can be sub-categorized by hull shape, cabin location, and so on.

A Yacht is a power or sailing vessel used for recreation, as opposed to work and is about 35’ or 12 m..

Sailboats are those powered by sails and have numerous subcategories by types like schooner, sloop, cutter, ketch, yawl, catboat, and also subcategories of type of sailing rigs like Square rig, Gaff rig, and Marconi-rig sail arrangement. 

Small sailboats are called day-sailors, and these have numerous subcategories.

Rowboats are those boats powered by oars or paddles and include canoes and kayaks. Each of these have subcategories.

You can go nuts trying to put your boat in to a category, but it is kind of amusing to see that someone has taken the time to do so. I think I would rather just go sailing.