Last Updated on 11 March 2024

A list of the different kinds of sailing ships and boats. Some of these evolved into motor ships, but the descriptions are from when they were sailing ships.

• Barque
  • Origin: Europe, 18th century
  • Masts: 3-4
  • Sails: Combination of fore-and-aft-rigged and square-rigged
  • Length: 50-70m
• Brig
  • Origin: late 18th century
  • Masts: 2
  • Sails: Square-rigged
  • Length: 23-50m
• Brigantine
  • Origin: Mediterranean, 13th century
  • Masts: 2
  • Sails: Square-rigged
  • Oars: 8-12 per side
  • Length: 20-25m
• Caravel
  • Origin: West African coast, early 15th century
  • Masts: 2-4
  • Sails: Lateen-rigged, later square-rigged
  • Length: 12-18m
• Carrack
  • Origin: Portugal, 15th century
  • Masts: 3-4
  • Sails: Square-rigged
  • Length: 20-40m
• Corvette
  • Origin: Europe, 17th century
  • Masts: 3
  • Sails: Full-rigged
  • Length: 12-18m
• Frigate
  • Origin: Mediterranean, late 15th century
  • Masts: 3
  • Sails: Square-rigged
  • Length: 30-40m
• Galleon
  • Origin: Spain, 16th century
  • Masts: 3-4
  • Sails: Mostly lateen-rigged
  • Length: 30-45m
• Galley
  • Origin: Various, before 20th century BC
  • Masts: 1-2, but originally mostly oar-based
  • Sails: Square-rigged, 15th century
  • 15-30 per side
  • Length: 20-30m
• Ketch
  • Origin: New England, 17th century
  • Masts: 2, mainmast is taller
  • Sails: Gaff-rigged
  • Length: 30-35m
• Schooner
  • Origin: 17th century
  • Masts: 2-6
  • Sails: Gaff-rigged
  • Length: 14-18m
• Sloop
  • Origin: Bermuda, 17th century
  • Masts: 1
  • Sails: Fore-and-aft-rigged
  • Length: 10-20m
• Yawl
  • Origin: Europe, early 19th-century
  • Masts: 2
  • Sails: Fore-and-aft-rigged
  • Length: 6-15m