[Grammar] boat's crew

[rock-onn]

Apostrophe is used to indicate possession.

In 'boat's crew' , a boat doesn't possess the crew. So, it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[tedmc]

It may not sound logical for inanimate objects to "possess" things but it is being used, e.g. country's resources, va car's bumper.
I think it is more of one object belonging to another.

 

[Skrej]

We need some way of identifying where the crew works, so we use the possessive to indicate they belong with the boat, instead of say a tank or a plane, or someplace else.

We sometimes refer to a crew as 'serving' on a boat, tank, etc. Perhaps that makes it more logical?