Know your Nautical terminology
Today I will deal with ship's boats. In general decending order of size, they are:
launch
Traditionally, the largest ship's boat carried by a warship.
longboat
In the Age of Sail, a double-banked open boat carried by a sailing ship, rowed by eight or ten oarsmen, two per thwart, although designed also to be rigged for sailing; more seaworthy than a cutter or dinghy and with a beam greater than that of a gig. Eventually supplanted by the whaleboat.
whaleboat
1. A type of open boat that is relatively narrow and pointed at both ends, enabling it to move either forwards or backwards equally well.
2. On modern warships, a relatively light and seaworthy boat for transport of ship's crew.
cutter
The open cutter carried aboard naval vessels in the 18th century was rowed by pairs of men sitting side-by-side on benches. The cutter, with its transom, was broader in proportion compared to the longboat, which had finer lines.
pinnace
A light boat, propelled by oars or sails, carried aboard merchant and war vessels in the Age of Sail to serve as a tender.
admiral's barge
A boat at the disposal of an admiral for his or her use as transportation between a larger vessel and the shore, or within a harbor.
captain's gig
A boat used on naval ships as the captain's taxi. It is a catch-all phrase for this type of craft and over the years it has gradually increased in size, changed with the advent of new technologies for locomotion, and been crafted from increasingly more durable materials.
dinghy
a type of small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel for use as a lifeboat or tender.
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(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)