Boats are always referred as "she" AFAIK, in both english or French. Probably because most if not all sailors are men.
I actually think that the english way doesn't make sense. I mean, a cat has neutral gender (poor cat...). How can a language that consider that animals have no gender make sense ?
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Often I must speak other than I think. That is called diplomacy.
* Stilgar
Show me a completely smooth operation and I'll show you a cover up. Real boats rock.
* Darwi Odrade