Which statement correctly describes the difference between a lifeboat and a liferaft?

• A. Lifeboat is a rigid or inflatable boat with its own propulsion; liferaft is an inflatable raft.
• B. Lifeboat is used only for drills; liferaft is used in emergencies.
• C. Lifeboat is always rigid; liferaft is always closed.
• D. Lifeboat is a floating umbrella.

Answer: (A)

The important idea is that lifeboats and liferafts differ mainly in propulsion and construction. A lifeboat is a full-fledged craft with its own hull and some form of propulsion—either a rigid hull with an engine or an inflatable boat that can be motorized—designed for evacuation and capable of maneuvering to safety. A liferaft, by contrast, is an inflatable raft that provides buoyancy and survival gear but usually has no propulsion of its own; it is deployed and floats freely until rescue. That’s why the statement is correct: it captures the core distinction between the two types of emergency craft. The other options misstate how these devices are used or what they’re like (for example, that lifeboats are only for drills, that lifeboats must be rigid, or that a lifeboat is just a “floating umbrella”).