This weekend, Jenn and I were out along the canal for a bit. She had her inline skates going and I was riding my bike. At one of the locks I ended up pulling Jenn up the hill behind my bike. We sat down on a bench above the locks and watched people and boats. There is a great boat moored at the Hartwell locks called the Fair Jeanne and when Jenn decided to head home, I stayed to observe it.

It’s landing is on the canal, but it has a huge mast, so it’s really a sailing ship. My guess is that it’s about 80 feet long too. But it got me thinking, is it a boat, or a ship? What’s the difference? Is it just size?

The owners were working on her and there were some kids on deck too. They were sitting on the mast (which was down and lying horizontally along the roof of the cabin and the deck. After watching me sit across the canal for a couple minutes, they started waving at me. I ignored them. Then I acknowledged them. Then I waved back. Then they started talking to me.

So, I asked them who owned the Fair Jeanne — Their dad. How old is she — 70 years. Is it a boat or a ship — It’s a boat. What’s bigger a boat or a ship — This boat is. What about a row boat — It’s a sail boat. Can I come on board — We’re supposed to be working…