# A vessel that sails the ocean is seaworthy. A vessel that sails lakes or rivers is …?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 11, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779 "2025-11-11T16:52:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779/1 "2025-11-11T16:52:52Z")

</div>

Do we still use the term “seaworthy “ if a vessel traverses, say, the Great Lakes? Did the crew of the Edmond Fitzgerald deem her “seaworthy” before setting off?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779/2 "2025-11-11T17:22:01Z")

</div>

A seaworthy vessel is a vessel that is considered properly equipped and fit for its intended use. I wouldn’t assign meaning beyond that, since the term “sea” is pretty broadly used. “Sea” just means a big body of water.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779/3 "2025-11-11T17:53:30Z")

</div>

I made a “rowboat” once. Since I made it of plywood the curves were not what they should have been. While it was tested and “swimming pool worthy” I did not try to certify it as “pond worthy”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779/4 "2025-11-11T22:44:09Z")

</div>

Navies, or the ships that make them up, can be described as “blue-water”, “green-water”, or “brown-water”. A blue-water navy or ship is fully capable out in the open ocean, in deep water far from land. A green-water navy or ship is capable in the ocean, but only in the shallow waters close to shore. A brown-water navy or ship is restricted to rivers or other inland waters.