Accident Reporting Terms & Definitions Project –Working Document–Vessel Sub-types workgroup of project team
VESSEL TYPES and SUB-TYPES (DRAFT as of August 2012)
Highlighting indicates a CFR authorized Vessel Type term label and definition
Blue labeled entries indicate a proposed Vessel Sub-type1
Airboat: A vessel that is typically flat-bottomed and propelled by an aircraft-type propeller powered by
an engine (This type of boat does not include “ground effect” as a means of propulsion; see
Hovercraft).
Auxiliary Sail: A vessel with sail as its primary method of propulsion and mechanical propulsion as its
secondary method.
Cabin Motorboat (Unspecified): A vessel propelled by propulsion machinery and providing enclosed
spaces inside its structure.
Cabin Cruiser: A type of cabin motorboat; with a cabin that can be completely closed by means
of doors or hatches.
Cuddy Cabin Motorboat/Day Cruiser: A type of cabin motorboat; a vessel with a small cabin
and maybe a small galley and small head. It may also have a small berth. Normally the
cuddy is not tall enough to stand in.
1
Per provisions in U.S. Coast Guard Final Rule on Changes to Standard Numbering System, Vessel Identification System, and
Boating Accident Report Database; 33 CFR Parts 173, 174, 181, 187 (issued March 28, 2012; effective date of April 27, 2012;
implementation date for major changes in provisions regarding casualty and accident reporting and the standard numbering
system, January 1, 2017).
In 2010, the Coast Guard issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for changes to the Standard Numbering System (SNS), Vessel
Identification System (VIS), and Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) [Docket USCG-2003-14963]. The bulk of proposals in
the NPRM that would have altered the accident report content in significant ways (for example, the inclusion of descriptions of
vessel operations and activity and accompanying authorized terms and definitions), were set aside for purposes of this Rule in
anticipation of the development of more comprehensive regulatory and policy proposals regarding accident reporting.
However, the Final Rule did incorporate the NPRM’s 11 categories of Vessel Types – with authorized terms and definitions – as
part of the intended harmonization of terms with the SNS and VIS.
The yellow highlighted terms and definitions signal the authorized categories of Vessel Types. The blue labeled terms presented
below several of those authorized categories are Sub-types proposed by a work group of the Accident Reporting Terms and
Definitions Project Team. Many of the proposed Sub-type entries have their foundation in a 2010 ERAC product on this accident
report category; they have been subsumed under the newly-authorized Vessel Type categories. The understanding, at this time,
is that data recorded in these Sub-type entries will roll-up into the Type categories for the report out in the annual national
Recreational Boating Statistics.
Vessel Types_Subtypes_DRAFT_Aug 2012
Accident Reporting Terms & Definitions Project –Working Document–Vessel Sub-types workgroup of project team
Houseboat: A motorized vessel that is usually non-planing and designed primarily for multi-purpose
accommodation spaces with low freeboard and little or no foredeck or cockpit.
Inflatable Boat: A vessel that uses air-filled flexible fabric for buoyancy.
Open Motorboat (Unspecified): A vessel equipped with propulsion machinery and having an open load
carrying area that does not have a continuous deck to protect it from the entry of water.
Bass Boat: A type of open motorboat; generally, an outboard powered fishing boat designed for
inland bass fishing. It is usually distinguished by a small, 2 or 3 occupant cockpit with
carpeted decking covering most of the rest of the boat. The decking usually has two
built in sockets, one fore and one aft, for the insertion of pedestal fishing seats for use
only when the boat is still or moving slowly, usually propelled by a bow mounted
electric trolling motor. This type of boat is often used in bass fishing tournaments.
Bay Boat: A type of open motorboat; a version of a center console boat typically with a modified
V hull design to facilitate shallow water operation, may include a tunnel cutout in the
hull and hydraulic jack plate for additional shallow water operation capability.
Bow Rider Runabout: A type of open motorboat; a runabout with an open bow area where
there are extra seats in front of the helm station and typically between 17 and 30 feet in
length.
Center Console: A type of open motorboat; a single-decked open hull boat where the console of
the boat is in the center of the boat. The boat deck surrounds the console so that a
person can walk all around the boat from stern to bow with ease.
Deck Boat: A type of open motorboat with large open spaces in the interior and plenty of
seating, typically with a deep-V or tri-hull construction that makes for increased
maneuverability and relatively comfortable ride.
Fish and Ski Boat: A type of open motorboat; a version of a bowrider runabout designed as a
compromise between a bass boat and family runabout. Equipped with bow mounted
trolling motor and decking for fishing, but also additional seating and conventional full
walk-through windshield design.
Flats Boat: A type of open motorboat; a specialized variation to a bass boat noted by a complete
decking of the low profile boat with only a cutout cockpit in the center of the boat for
the operator and a passenger, who generally sit on the deck. It is often rigged with a
powerful outboard mounted on a jack plate, so that it may operate at high speed over
expanses of relatively shallow water (flats).
Jon Boat: A type of open motorboat with a flat-bottom design, usually constructed of aluminum
and usually with bench seats.
Vessel Types_Subtypes_DRAFT_Aug 2012
Accident Reporting Terms & Definitions Project –Working Document–Vessel Sub-types workgroup of project team
Low Profile Powerboat: A type of open motorboat; a version of a runabout, typically a high
performance vessel with low freeboard/transom, shallow-v configuration and powered
by a large engine
Modified V Jon Boat: A type of open motorboat; a version of a Jon boat but with the bow
shaped in the form of a V to cut the chop and provide a safe more comfortable ride than
a conventional Jon boat.
Offshore Powerboat (Cigarette-style): A type of open motorboat; a high performance vessel
built of fiberglass construction with a deep "V" or catamaran offshore racing hull,
usually 30 to 50 feet long, relatively narrow in beam and generally equipped with two or
more powerful engines
Open Deep-V Fishing Boat: A type of open motorboat; Deep-V bow configuration, usually
aluminum hull, with an open interior and helm at a single console, pedestal seats and
electric trolling motor mounted on bow or stern in addition to the primary outboard
engine. This type of boat is different from a bass boat in that it does not have elevated
fishing decks and has a deeper V bow configuration.
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RIB/RHIB): A type of open motorboat. A relatively light-weight but
high performance and high capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and
flexible or foam-filled tubes at the gunwale.
Runabout: A type of open motorboat with deck covering the bow, conventional seating and
windshield, typically between 17 and 30 feet in length.
Ski Boat: A type of open motorboat, with a shallow draft V bottom hull, typically inboard
powered, usually from 18 to 24 feet in length and designed primarily for water skiing.
Utility Boat: A type of non-racing open motorboat; a small V-bottom boat with open
construction and without a windshield. Normally constructed out of aluminum and
usually with bench seats.
Wakeboard Boat: Same as definition for Ski Boat, but in addition, the wakeboard boat has a
wakeboard tower and some type of adjustable variable onboard ballast system or
adjustable transom tab in order to create more water displacement by the boat, thus
creating larger wakes for the wakeboarder to jump.
Walleye Boat: Same as definition for Bass Boat, but with a deeper V configuration and a full
walk-thru windshield.
Vessel Types_Subtypes_DRAFT_Aug 2012
Accident Reporting Terms & Definitions Project –Working Document–Vessel Sub-types workgroup of project team
Paddlecraft (Unspecified): A vessel powered only by its occupants, using a single or double-bladed
paddle as a lever without the aid of a fulcrum provided by oarlocks, thole pins, crutches, or
similar arrangements.
2
Canoe – Unspecified: A type of paddlecraft; a long light narrow boat which is usually sharp at
both ends with curved sides and is usually propelled by single blade hand-driven
paddles.
Canoe – Whitewater version: A type of canoe; designed for whitewater; has more
rocker and more flotation than its flatwater counterpart.
Canoe – Recreational version: A type of canoe; general use, usually built for two
occupants (tandem); commonly between 15 and 18 feet in length.
Canoe – Touring version: A type of canoe; long and more slender than canoes built for
day trips, touring canoes are built for speed.
Canoe – Decked version: A type of canoe; resembles a kayak in that it has a closed deck,
but the paddler kneels in it and uses a canoe paddle; comes in solo and tandem
versions.
Kayak – Unspecified: A type of paddlecraft; a very lightly built boat of narrow beam (width) and
shallow draft (depth of water drawn when loaded) designed to be manually propelled
by paddles that are normally double-ended.
Kayak – Whitewater version: A type of kayak; typically a shorter more maneuverable
craft for use on whitewater.
Kayak – Recreational version: A type of kayak; typically has a large cockpit with or
without a provision for sealing the opening to the body of the occupant (i.e.,
spray-skirt); typically less than 12 feet in length, with wider beam and larger
cockpit.
Kayak – Touring version: A type of kayak; typically has built in storage capacity for gear
and provision for sealing the cockpit opening to the body of the occupant with a
water-tight spray-skirt; normally longer and more slender in construction.
Kayak – Sit-on-top version: A type of kayak; has a sealed, watertight deck surface into
which seats and features are molded; typically does not have an opening that
can be sealed around the occupant.
2
The terms and definitions for these sub sub-types of Canoe and Kayak were adapted from the 2008 Paddlesport Training
Module (product of an ERAC charge). Note, the terminology ".... version" is included so that it does not confuse with the
Vessel's Activity.
Vessel Types_Subtypes_DRAFT_Aug 2012
Accident Reporting Terms & Definitions Project –Working Document–Vessel Sub-types workgroup of project team
Paddleboard: A type of paddlecraft; a modified surfboard without bindings that uses a paddle
for propulsion.
3
Standup Paddleboard: A type of paddlecraft; a modified surfboard without bindings that is
intended to be paddled while standing up.
Personal Watercraft: A vessel propelled by a water-jet pump or other machinery as its primary source of
motive power and designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the
vessel, rather than sitting or standing within the vessel’s hull.
Pontoon Boat (Unspecified): A vessel with a broad, flat deck that is affixed on top of closed cylinders
which are used for buoyancy, the basic design of which is usually implemented with two rows of
floats as a catamaran or with three rows of floats as a trimaran (see Tritoon Pontoon Boat).
Tritoon Pontoon Boat: A type of pontoon boat; consisting of a rigid structure connecting three
parallel fore (front) and aft (back) rigid sealed buoyancy chambers.
Rowboat (Unspecified): An open vessel manually propelled by oars. [sub-types below need further
clarification as to accuracy of placement]
Drift Boat: A type of rowboat; design characterized by a wide, flat bottom for low draft; flared
sides; a narrow, flat bow, often mistaken for the transom; and a pointed stern.
Specialized to run rapids on rivers.
Raft: A type of rowboat; a flat bottomed craft for floating, drifting or maneuvering by paddles
on water.
Rowing Shell: A type of rowboat; light, long, narrow racing boat for rowing by one or more
persons.
Sail Only (Unspecified): A vessel propelled only by sails.
Kiteboard: A sail only vessel; modified surfboard with or without foot-straps or bindings,
combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel the rider and the board
across the water.
3
Addition of this term and definition has origins in discussion of SUPs at the June 2012 WSBAA meeting.
Vessel Types_Subtypes_DRAFT_Aug 2012
Accident Reporting Terms & Definitions Project –Working Document–Vessel Sub-types workgroup of project team
Sailboard: Sail propelled vessel with no freeboard and equipped with a swivel mounted mast
not secured to a hull by guys or stays.
Other
Hovercraft: A vessel capable of moving over water or land on a cushion of air created by
downward directed fans powered by engine(s).
Paddle Boat: A vessel propelled by alternating paddles, worked by one or more operators’ feet
and legs.
Other (Describe): If the vessel does not fit any of the descriptions above, enter another term for the
vessel that best describes it.
Vessel Types_Subtypes_DRAFT_Aug 2012