boat yacht meaning

Yachts vs. Boats: What are the Differences?

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Last Updated on April 13, 2022 by Boatsetter Team

Many people use the words “boat” and “yacht” interchangeably, and some lean on the latter to make their ride sound more impressive. But what are the key differences between boats and yachts?

First, let’s look at some broad definitions of a boat, a yacht, and other related vessels.

• “Boat” can refer to just about any kind of vessel— towboat , fishing boat , center console , houseboat , and so on.
• “Dinghy” designates a small boat with a human or wind means of propulsion including a rowing dinghy or sailing dinghy. It also refers to a tender to a bigger boat or yacht.
• “Ship” is a large commercial boat, often used for distance travel and transport of goods or passengers – cruise ship, container ship, etc.
• “Yacht” is typically a larger boat with luxury amenities used as a recreational vessel— motor yacht , sailing yacht .
• “Superyacht” is a large yacht and is often also called a mega yacht . The delineation used to be at 80-feet but again, with today’s size creep, anything under 100 feet would just simply be called a yacht.

So, yacht or boat? Let’s dive deeper into the elements that differentiate a boat from a yacht.

Own a Boat or a Yacht? Learn How to Offset the Cost of Ownership by Listing on Boatsetter

Size of the Vessel

Some place a hard line at 35 feet. Below that, you have a boat and above, it’s a yacht. However, that’s an artificial differentiator.

Just 30 years ago, a 30-foot boat was considered large and could have been a yacht but as recreational boats grow longer, the term yacht has been pushed up the scale.

That said, a well-kept 40-foot boat designed for recreation can technically still be called a yacht (although larger vessels are likely to cost more, price isn’t a good indicator of yacht status primarily because it fluctuates with brand, age, and amenities).

Check out local yacht rentals near you to understand how size plays a difference.

What it’s Used For

A yacht is a vessel designed for recreational purposes. It generally operates on open waters (rather than small lakes or rivers) and has accommodations for overnight guests.

A cruise ship, on the other hand, accommodates a large number of passengers in a commercial setting whereas a yacht carries a smaller number (of paying or non-paying) passengers for private recreation.

Onboard Technology

Advanced technology for navigation, communications, and system operation as well as redundant systems for safety can be found on a yacht that is likely to venture farther.

Again, there are caveats because today’s towboats that are fun day boats also feature technology such as GPS and digital switching that integrates many electrical and electronic features.

Propulsion Types

This is a tricky one. “Yacht” comes from the Dutch word “jaght” which referred to a sailing vessel that was used by the navy to capture pirate ships and later for recreation by the affluent.

Today, a yacht can be a large sailing vessel or a motor yacht. All larger yachts will have a motor for propulsion whether they have sails or not. Sailboats by design have smaller motors so trying to put a horsepower minimum on yacht propulsion is simply inaccurate.

Some define a yacht as having multiple crews to operate the vessel and tend to passengers or guests. The larger the yacht, the more crew will be required to navigate, maintain and service the vessel. That said, a couple who owns a 50-footer can call their boat a yacht although it’s owner-operated.

Luxury and Amenities

This is perhaps the best measure of a yacht. If the vessel offers accommodations, a galley , a head , and is luxurious in its presentation, it’s most likely a yacht.

That said, there are lots of center console fishing boats and towboats that are pretty nicely equipped these days and they wouldn’t be called a yacht.

All yachts are boats, but not all boats are yachts—and the lines are blurry. The word yacht elicits images of posh seafaring experiences while a boat evokes ideas of fun and perhaps work. Do some research to learn what size and type of boat or yacht is best for you .

To a degree, the point at which a boat becomes a yacht is in the ear of the beholder but if you focus on size, amenities, and the type of use, you’ll be able to discern the difference. Then all that remains is to find a way to spend time and have fun on any kind of vessel.

Browse All Available Boat & Yacht Rentals Across the Globe

Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

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Definition of yacht

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of yacht  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

Examples of yacht in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yacht.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

obsolete Dutch jaght , from Middle Low German jacht , short for jachtschip , literally, hunting ship

1557, in the meaning defined above

1836, in the meaning defined above

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“Yacht.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yacht. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of yacht.

Kids Definition of yacht  (Entry 2 of 2)

from obsolete Dutch jaght (now jacht ), short for jachtschip, literally, "hunting ship"

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Meaning of yacht in English

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• They spent their annual vacation on a chartered yacht in the Caribbean .
• He spent three days adrift on his yacht.
• His eyes were fixed on the distant yacht.
• If they can afford a yacht, they must be rolling in it.
• She sailed around the world single-handed in her yacht.
• cabin cruiser
• dragon boat

yacht | Intermediate English

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a criminal act that results in serious damage or injury, especially murder

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What Does Yacht Mean? (The Definition and History Explained)

Ah, the luxurious lifestyle of the yacht.

Whether youve seen one in the harbor or on a distant horizon, the image of a yacht has a certain allure and mystique.

But what exactly is a yacht? From the definition to the different types, the history, and the lifestyle, there is so much to explore.

In this article, we will uncover the mysteries of the yacht, and explore the different types, the races, and the luxury amenities that come with them.

Get ready to set sail!.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Yacht is a term used to describe a recreational boat or vessel that is used for pleasure trips and sailing.

It typically refers to a larger, more luxurious boat than a regular fishing or leisure boat.

Generally, yachts are meant for longer trips, usually with more than one person on board.

Yachts can range in size depending on the type of boat and its intended use, but all will typically include luxury features and amenities for a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

The Definition of Yacht

Yacht is a term often used to describe a variety of large and luxurious recreational boats, typically used for personal pleasure or sport.

Yachts can be defined as any boat or vessel that is used for leisure and recreational activities.

While the term yacht may be used to describe any kind of boat, it is most commonly used to refer to large, expensive boats designed for recreation, luxury, and leisure.

These vessels are typically larger than other recreational boats, and can range from modest day-sailers to luxury mega-yachts with all the amenities of a home.

Yachts are usually crewed by professional or paid crew and can be used for activities such as fishing, cruising, racing, and even as a floating holiday home.

Yachts may be owned either by individuals or by companies, and typically contain a variety of amenities such as staterooms, sleeping areas, dining areas, and entertainment areas.

Yachts are often used in the charter industry, where they are rented for short-term use, and can be found in harbor cities and coastal towns around the world.

Yachting is a popular recreational activity that has been around for centuries, and can be traced back to ancient Greece.

Yachting has long been associated with wealth and luxury, with the earliest yachts being owned by wealthy aristocrats.

In modern times, yachting has become more accessible to people of all backgrounds, with a variety of yachting activities and vessels available to meet a variety of budgets and preferences.

The term yacht is derived from the Dutch word jacht, which translates to hunt.

The term was originally used to refer to small, fast vessels used by the Dutch navy to chase and capture pirates.

Over time, the term has come to refer to large, luxurious recreational vessels that are often used for pleasure and leisure.

Yachts have become a symbol of wealth and luxury, and are often associated with the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Types of Yachts

When it comes to yachts, there are several different types available.

The most common type is the sailing yacht, which is propelled through the water by sails and is typically smaller than other types of yachts.

Motor yachts, on the other hand, are powered by an engine and are typically larger than sailing yachts .

Another popular type of yacht is the sport fishing yacht, which combines the luxury of a motor yacht with the convenience of fishing.

These yachts often have advanced navigational equipment, fishing tackle, and other amenities.

Finally, there are luxury yachts, which are the most luxurious of all yachts and typically feature amenities such as jet skis, hot tubs, and full-service bars.

No matter which type of yacht you choose, they all provide a luxurious experience on the water.

Yacht Racing

Yacht racing is one of the most popular activities associated with yachts, and it has a long and storied history.

Yacht racing dates back to the 1800s and has been a popular pastime ever since.

The sport is often divided into two main categories: offshore and inshore racing.

Offshore racing involves navigating the open waters of the ocean, while inshore racing is confined to the waters near shore.

In both types of racing, yachts compete against each other to see who can complete the course in the shortest amount of time.

Yacht racing is typically governed by the rules and regulations of the International Sailing Federation, which sets out a standard for the equipment and safety of the yachts and the sailors onboard.

Yacht racing is a highly competitive sport, and it is a great way to test the skills and strategies of the crew.

There are a variety of different classes of yacht racing, ranging from small dinghies and keelboats to large ocean-going yachts.

The most prestigious class of yacht racing is the America’s Cup, which is the oldest and most prestigious sailing race in the world.

The America’s Cup has been held since 1851 and is now held every four years in a different location.

Yacht racing is an exciting and challenging sport, and it is one of the most popular activities associated with yachts.

Whether it is a day sail or a full-fledged race, yacht racing is a great way to experience the thrill of sailing and the camaraderie of the crew.

Yacht Charters & Cruising

When people think of yachts, they usually think of luxury and leisurely cruising around the ocean.

Yacht charters have become increasingly popular, allowing people to enjoy the freedom of the open seas without having to purchase their own yacht.

Yacht charters offer a variety of packages, depending on the size and amenities of the yacht, the type of cruise being taken, and the number of people being accommodated.

Chartering a yacht is a great way to explore a variety of destinations and enjoy a variety of activities, from fishing and swimming to sightseeing and sunbathing.

Yacht charters typically include a professional crew to manage the vessel, as well as a variety of amenities such as a chef, cabin crew, and a variety of water toys.

Some charter companies even offer special packages for romantic getaways, corporate retreats, or special occasions.

Safety is always a priority when it comes to yacht charters, and all vessels must adhere to strict safety regulations.

All vessels must be inspected and certified by the relevant maritime authority and must be equipped with the necessary safety equipment.

Yacht charters are typically subject to local laws and regulations and must be operated in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Whether youre looking for a private escape or a unique corporate event, yacht charters offer a luxurious and convenient way to explore the open seas.

From discovering new destinations to enjoying the comforts of home away from home, yacht charters provide an unforgettable experience for all.

The History of Yachts

The term yacht has been around since the 1600s, and it has come to represent a broad range of luxurious recreational boats.

The word itself is derived from the Dutch term jacht, which translates to hunt.

In the 1600s, yachts were used for military purposes, such as scouting and patrolling.

Over time, however, the term yacht has come to refer to any large, luxurious recreational boat.

Modern yachts are typically larger than other recreational boats, and range from modest day-sailers to luxury mega-yachts with all the amenities of a home.

Yachts are typically crewed by professional or paid crew and can be used for activities such as fishing, cruising, racing, and even as a floating holiday home.

The evolution of the yacht has been quite remarkable.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, yachts were primarily used by the wealthy and elite to show off their wealth and status.

Yachts of this era were often quite elaborate and ornate, with richly decorated decks, lavish interior spaces, and even an onboard orchestra.

As technology improved, so did the capabilities of yachts.

In the late 1920s, the modern sailing yacht was invented and became the norm, allowing for a more comfortable and efficient sailing experience.

In the mid-20th century, motor yachts were developed, making navigation and speed much easier.

By the latter part of the 20th century, yacht builders began to focus more on luxury and comfort, with modern yachts featuring amenities such as spas, fitness centers, multiple decks, luxurious cabins, and more.

Today, yachts are still seen as a symbol of wealth and status, and there is a great deal of competition in the luxury yacht market.

There are many different types of yachts to choose from, from modest day-sailers to mega-yachts that can cost millions of dollars.

Yachts of all sizes can be used for a variety of activities, from fishing, cruising, and racing, to simply enjoying the beauty of the open sea.

The Yacht Lifestyle

Yachting is more than just a leisure activity; it is a lifestyle.

From the outside, it might appear to be a glamorous and luxurious pursuit, but there is much more to it than that.

Yachting is a unique way of life that is rich in adventure, exploration, and relaxation.

It is an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing you to explore the world in a more intimate and luxurious way.

Yachting provides an opportunity to experience the world in a way that is both exciting and luxurious.

Whether it be racing around the world or simply enjoying the gentle breeze of a summer day, yachting is a great way to explore the world.

You can explore remote destinations, experience different cultures, and even explore the depths of the sea.

With a yacht, the possibilities are truly endless.

The yacht lifestyle is also a great way to relax and enjoy the finer things in life.

With a yacht, you can enjoy the luxury of a five-star hotel, complete with a dedicated crew to cater to your needs.

On board, you can enjoy fine dining, top-shelf drinks, and all the amenities of a luxurious hotel.

You can also take advantage of the yacht’s amenities, such as a gym, swimming pool, spa, and even a movie theater.

The yacht lifestyle also offers the opportunity to meet new people and build relationships.

With a yacht, you can travel to different ports and meet new people from all over the world.

You can also host events on board, from intimate dinner parties to large gatherings.

At the end of the day, the yacht lifestyle is about living life to the fullest.

It is about exploring the world in luxury and relaxation.

It is about creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Whether you are a racing enthusiast or simply looking for a way to escape from the everyday grind, the yacht lifestyle is an unparalleled experience that is sure to provide a lifetime of memories.

Luxury Amenities of Yachts

When it comes to luxury and comfort, yachts are in a class of their own.

From plush furnishings and spacious cabins to state-of-the-art entertainment systems and private chef-prepared meals, yachts have all the amenities of a home but with the added benefit of being able to take them anywhere in the world.

Whether you’re looking to cruise the Mediterranean, fish the Pacific, or just relax in the Caribbean, yachts are the perfect way to do it in style.

Most yachts come equipped with fully-stocked wet bars, hot tubs, and even private movie theaters, making them the perfect place to entertain family and friends.

There are also plenty of options when it comes to entertainment, from game rooms to fishing equipment, and even water-sports equipment for those looking for a more active vacation.

Yachts also come equipped with the latest navigation and communications systems, so you can stay connected with the world even when you’re out at sea.

With satellite-based communication, you can even stay connected with friends and family back home.

Finally, when it comes to luxury amenities, yachts are the perfect way to pamper yourself.

From private spa treatments to personal chefs and masseuses, yachts provide the perfect opportunity to indulge and relax in style.

Final Thoughts

Yacht is a term that has a long and fascinating history, and today there are a variety of yachts that range from modest day-sailers to luxurious mega-yachts.

Yachts can be used for a variety of activities such as racing and cruising, and also offer a unique lifestyle with various luxury amenities.

If you’re looking to experience the luxury of a yacht, consider chartering one for a special occasion or take a sailing course to learn more about the yacht lifestyle.

No matter what, you’re sure to have a memorable experience.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Boat vs. Ship vs Yacht: What’s the Difference?

Language is a tricky thing, and picking out the differences between similar terms can be confusing. This is especially true when some of the definitions overlap. This is the case with the case of boat vs. ship vs. yacht . What’s the difference? We know in our gut that there are differences between these three seafaring vessels, but unless you’re a harbor master do you really know what counts as what?

Let’s get into some definitions, and we’re going to start with the easiest to explain: What is a yacht? What is a ship? And what is a boat?

Yacht vs. Ship vs. Boat

What is a yacht.

A yacht, I think everyone would agree, is fancier than a ship or a boat. “Yacht” infers some amount of luxury , and definitely recreation. There’s also something to be said about size. A yacht tends to be anywhere between 35 feet up to 160 feet. And some yachts, known as superyachts, go even beyond that. (Jeff Bezos just built a 417 foot yacht, but that’s really breaking yacht records.)

Because of the size, yachts tend to operate in larger bodies of water–generally the ocean. Yachts are able to handle rougher ocean waves, and they are also equipped with more advanced navigation and guidance instruments than smaller boats. Likewise, a yacht tends to have a full crew to help with the navigation, engineering, repairs, as well as having stewards that serve the yacht’s guests. This can be anywhere from a crew of four or five up to a crew of a few dozen on large yachts. 

One interesting thing to note is that outside of the United States, a yacht refers to a sailboat , and a motorized yacht is called a “motor yacht”. 

So, is a yacht a boat? Yes, technically a yacht is a boat. But a yacht is a very specific kind of boat.

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What is a Ship?

The term ship is most commonly associated with a very large boat, and something that is not as fancy as a yacht (one exception is that cruise ships can still be very fancy, but are referred to as ships because of their size and power.)

Ships are generally so large that they would never be found in a lake, with some exceptions for the Great Lakes, and are made for navigating the high seas of the open ocean. An ship can refer to a cruise ship, a naval ship, a tanker, a container ship, and many other commercial vessels.

Ships tend to have advanced navigation and technology, but much more advanced than that of a yacht due to the size, the speed, and the routes that a ship will take. They are meant to be traversing the open ocean for very long periods of time, from one continent to the next, while a yacht may only rarely set across the ocean and most often stays somewhat near land. 

A ship will also have a much larger crew than a yacht or a boat. Ships are typically so large that they need not only one trained navigator but a set of navigators, plus an entire engineering team, and includes many more positions. 

Finally, a ship is meant to carry things. This may be passengers, yes (in reference to cruise ships and some navy ships) but most ships are for carrying cargo–or even carrying equipment to do work on other ships including repair work or refueling. 

What is a Boat?

Well, a boat is harder to define, because a yacht is technically a boat, and a ship is technically a boat. But when people refer to boats, they are almost always referring to something smaller than either a yacht or a ship. Boats may be motorized, like a speed boat, or they may sail, or they may be man-powered, like a rowboat or a kayak. Really, anything up to and including a liferaft, can be called a boat.

(As a side note that will just muddy the waters even further, submarine captains are adamant that their subs are boats. They are not ships.)

So, Boat vs. Ship Vs. Yacht?

Ultimately it comes down to this: all three of them are boats, but yachts are fancier, larger, and used for recreation, and ships are even larger, used commercially or by the navy, and are meant to cross oceans. The dividing line is sometimes thin, but generally speaking, when it comes to boats vs. ships.vs. yachts you can go by the adage “ I know it when I see it .”

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Yacht : modern meaning of the term and types of boats

• Luca D'Ambrosio
• February 25, 2023

The etymology of the term yacht comes from the Dutch word ‘jacht’, which was used in the past to define the fast sailing vessels used to hunt down pirates along the coasts of northern Europe.

Today, the term ‘yacht’ is used to describe all recreational vessels, whether sailing or motor-powered, with at least one cabin that allows the crew to sleep on board.

There is no established definition for the length of this family of boats, but common usage tends to define a yacht as a vessel longer than 33 feet, or about 10 meters.

As mentioned above, a yacht may be equipped with sailing, motor or mixed propulsion. It can have more than one hull, and if it exceeds 25 meters it also deserves the definition of superyacht . When a yacht is over 50 meters it is called a megayacht and, more and more frequently, when it exceeds 100 meters it becomes a gigayacht.

A yacht normally flies a flag that corresponds to the country where the vessel is registered, not least because, if it does not, it may be captured and taken to the nearest port for ‘flag survey’. As far as international maritime law is concerned, the yacht is considered in all respects to be the territory of the country of the flag it flies, to whose sovereignty the crew is subject.

A yacht flying the flag of a country, unless there is well-founded suspicion of illegal activity, can only be stopped for inspection by the military vessels of that country. When a yacht enters the territorial waters of a country other than that of its flag, it is obliged to fly a courtesy flag.

This is tantamount to a declaration of submission to the navigational laws of the country in which it is sailing.

Sailing and motor-powered yachts

The first major distinction is between sailing yachts and motoryachts. The current worldwide spread of these two families has shifted decisively towards motor yachts, which make up about 75% of the total sailing fleet.

Progress and design have produced many different categories of motor yachts, so let’s discover them together.

Motoryachts

Seen from the stern, a flybridge yacht is often equipped with a “beach club”, a platform that facilitates access to the sea and on which water toys are placed or simply used for diving. A staircase, or even two symmetrical staircases, leads from this platform to the main deck. Sometimes there is a “garage” between these two staircases to house the engine room, a tender and other on-board equipment.

The main deck is characterized by the presence of a helm station, inside of which a large open-space salon houses settees and a galley. The helm station often leads below deck, also known as the lower deck, where the sleeping quarters, or cabins, are normally located.

The foredeck often has a large sundeck bordered by a “bowplate” for hauling anchor. The bow is often “fenced in” by the handrails, which are vital grips for safety at sea.

Let’s get to why a yacht is called a flybridge. The flybridge is an upper deck, open 360 degrees and often covered by a hard-top, a roof usually made of fibreglass. The flybridge usually has an additional helm station to steer from a more panoramic position. An additional galley is often located on the flybridge, as well as additional lounge seating and sun decks.

Open Yachts

An open yacht has no flybridge and its main deck is commonly all open. The helm station can frequently be sheltered by a T-Top. Below deck, depending on the length of the yacht, there are living spaces for the crew which may include dinette, cabins and facilities. Open yachts can be walk-around, i.e. with the possibility for passengers of walking freely around the perimeter of the boat, or they can have an enclosed bow and thus have a raised deck.

A coupe yacht is a yacht without a flybridge, characterized by a sporty design, with the main deck open aft. Very often it has a sunroof and is always equipped with side-decks connecting the stern to the bow. It is a vessel that, depending on its size, is suitable for medium to long-distance cruising.

This is an important type of yacht, which has its origins on the American East Coast where it was used to catch lobsters. It has a romantic, sometimes vintage aesthetic, and is endowed with sinuous lines that, for some, are evocative of the 1950s. Very suitable for cruising and conviviality, thanks also to a large sofa in the cockpit, the lobster is an iconic boat that offers plenty of comfort and space below deck for at least one cabin and one head.

The trawler is essentially a yacht for owners who want to spend a lot of time on board. This is why interior volumes are maximized and the upper deck is always present. Also part of the trawler family are the famous Menorcan boats, inspired by the llaüts of the Menorca island..

Increasingly popular among motor yachts, too, is the multihull, due to its inherent features of stability and capacity. In most cases it is a catamaran designed for long stays at sea.

Sailing yacht

Sailing yachts are vessels where propulsion should mainly rely on the power transmitted by the wind. In the past, sailing yacht engines were low-powered and mainly used for entering and leaving ports, but today, for obvious reasons of practicality and ease of use, they have enough power to make the sailing yacht cruise at a speed at least equal to its theoretical hull speed. This means that sailing yachts can be used efficiently even in the total absence of wind.

A sailing yacht can be rigged in many different ways, these being the most common in modern times:

Sloop : this is the most common rigging on modern boats, characterized by the presence of a single mast with a mainsail and a jib or genoa. Sloop rigging has become popular over the years because it is the easiest to handle with a small crew and also offers the best ease of use/sailing performance ratio.

Cutter : Widely used for long distance sailing, it is characterized by the presence of a mainsail and two jibs rigged on a single mast. Normally the two jibs are a genoa and foresail that are used individually, depending on the weather conditions.

Ketch : this is the most commonly used rig on two-masted sailing yachts, with a mainmast, rigged with a mainsail and genoa, and a mizzenmast, forward of the rudder shaft, rigged with a single mainsail. The splitting of the sails makes this type of yacht suitable for sailing in bad weather.

Yawl : exactly the same as a ketch but with the mizzen mast located aft of the rudder shaft.

Sailing yachts can be monohulls or multihulls, i.e. catamarans or trimarans, but in all cases they can be divided into these categories:

Easy to handle and with plenty of space above and below deck, this type of yacht is normally characterized by an unbalanced length/width ratio favouring the latter, a small sail area and more powerful than average engines.

The interiors are fully equipped and sophisticated, with each cabin often having its own en-suite head.

The deck plan and sailing equipment are simplified, often electrified and minimal.

Cruiser-Racer

This yacht, while still featuring a luxurious and complete interior, also has all the equipment needed for sail fine-tuning and a generous sail area.

This is a category where special attention is paid to both the overall weight of the boat and the hull shape.

The hull lines are in fact designed to enhance performance and, inevitably, this results in a slightly smaller interior than that of pure cruising yachts of the same length.

Racer-Cruiser

The owner who buys this type of yacht has already competed in club competitions and now wants to engage in higher level racing. The hulls are light and can sometimes be made of carbon, and all the sail adjustments are fine-tuned to achieve maximum performance.

The deck plan is definitely designed for crewed racing and the sail area/displacement ratio is unbalanced in favour of the former, making this yacht more difficult to handle with a smaller crew but, conversely, capable of performance similar to a pure racing yacht.

A pure racing yacht is a sailing yacht built exclusively for racing. Free from any commercial constraints, it is built according to the type of race to be competed in and, above all, the rating to be obtained. The interiors of this boat are minimal. This yacht is capable of planing and sailing upwind at very low wind angles, but is almost never used for recreational purposes.

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Definition of yacht noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

With so many different types of yachts to choose from, it can be hard to know your Flybridges from your Tri-Decks if you’re just starting your search. Although there is a growing number of terms used to describe the different types of yachts out there, many of the terms overlap or are used interchangeably.

If you’re on the market for a yacht, the team here at Van Isle Marina has compiled a review of the different terms you’ll likely come across when cruising through yachts for sale .

The term ‘boat’ is used to describe any water vessel, propelled by either sails, an engine, or manpower. It’s not very specific, which means yachts, dingeys, and everything in between technically falls under the blanket term ‘boat’.

The term ‘yacht’ brings a little more prestige and sophistication with its origin story, being derived from the word “hunter” in Dutch. Hundreds of years ago, the Dutch navy built and sailed yachts to literally hunt down pirate ships in shallow waters. That’s part of the reason why both powerboats and sailboats can be classified as ‘yachts. It didn’t take long for other nations to catch on, using the Dutch idea for navy ships and eventually racing vessels and private, recreational vessels.

The size is one of the most common factors used to determine whether a boat should be classified as a yacht or not. When it comes to size, there are no official rules, so it depends on who you ask. Some will say the boat needs to be at least 35 feet to qualify as a yacht – others will say even longer. If you’re yacht is more than 75 feet, you’re approaching Super Yacht range, and if it’s more than 250 feet you’re in Mega Yacht territory.

Despite the uncertainty around size-based classification, typically, you’ll know it when you see it. That massive vessel that looks like it could sleep a 10+ and needs a dozen ropes to secure it to the dock? That’s definitely a yacht. And that small, single-level boat with not a lot of room to stand? That’s definitely a boat.

The downside of using size as the only determining factor is it’s black and white. If you set the boundaries with size, there’s no room for gray area. Let’s explore more…

Luxury Living

Yachts are an international symbol of luxury and wealth around the world. The yacht is synonymous with luxury, which can actually help us when classifying boats as yachts or not. If the boat is built with luxury top of mind, it is probably a yacht.

How do you spot luxury? From the shore, the exterior of a yacht is typically sleeker with distinct accent styles. But the real luxury becomes evident when you step on board. Yachts are built with spacious living areas, full size kitchen and bathrooms, advanced TV and audio systems, and designer-style furnishings. You might even find hot tubs, a pool, and a helicopter pad in ultra-luxurious cases.

If you’re closing in on the purchase of your new boat and you’re still unsure whether it’s a yacht or not, the price tag should give you some indication. Yachts are known to cost far more than boats, due to their level of luxury and comfort, size, and usage. For a brand-new yacht, you can easily pay $100,000+ per foot, which means you’re looking at millions of dollars for the total price.

There are other costs to consider as well. Because yachts are larger, most will require a professional crew (or at least a captain) on board. Then there’s maintenance and insurance, both of which will cost more for a yacht.

Another key differentiator between boats and yachts is what their purpose – what they’re being used for out on the water. There is no nailed down definition of what makes a yacht a yacht, but most boaters consider a yacht to be any type of sea vessel that is used strictly for recreational or pleasure purposes like cruising , entertaining, water sports, fishing , or year-round accommodations.

The only purpose of a yacht is recreation. But more specifically, yachts are designed for personal pleasure and leisure, whether that’s long, ocean-crossing journeys or anchoring near a buzzing port town.

On the other hand, if the vessel is doing a job or being used for a specific activity, it’s not a yacht. If the boat is involved in any commercial activity, it’s only a boat. Even if it’s being used recreationally, for example fishing or watersports, the boat is still a boat.

Handling Conditions

When you’re out on the open ocean, you’ll have high winds and dangerous waters to deal with. In these conditions, size will definitely work to your advantage. And while you’re closer to shore, you can expect the conditions to be much calmer.

When it comes to dealing with conditions, one worthwhile classification system places boats into one of 4 categories, labelled A through D:

Class A : These are large yachts capable of handling high winds (force 8 on the Beaufort scale) and up to 13-foot waves in the open ocean. These boats are certainly yachts and are built for the open ocean.

Class B : While these yachts aren’t quite designed for the open ocean, they’re very capable craft. Also known as “ offshore vessels ”, Class B yachts are best suited for waters less than 200 miles (321km) from shore.

Class C : Class C boats are typically known as ‘boats’, as they’re designed for inshore and nearshore excursions – not the open ocean. These boats are fine with waves a few feet high, but anything higher than that is dangerous.

Class D : These boats are typically small ones and are not built for harsh conditions. These craft can handle winds of up to 25km/hour and waves just a couple feet high.

Types of Yachts

A yacht is first defined either as a sailing yacht, motor yacht, or gulet yacht, and then as a sports yacht or luxury yacht.

• Sailing Yacht: a yacht mainly propelled via wind and sails
• Motor Yacht: a yacht propelled via one or more motors
• Gulet Yacht: a hybrid yacht with both sails and motors
• Open Yacht, Cruiser, Cabin Cruiser, Express Cruiser: an otherwise uncategorized standard yacht for cruising and entertaining
• Luxury Yacht: a yacht that includes high-end finishes and features and the latest in modern performance technology. The term ‘luxury’ can precede any type of yacht, i.e. “luxury motor yacht”, “luxury sailing yacht”, etc.
• Sports Yacht : a yacht geared towards fishing, water sports, or cruising with a sleeker design and more powerful motor for faster cruising speeds. The term ‘sports’ can precede other types of yachts as well, i.e. “sports motor yacht”.
• Catamaran Yacht: a yacht with two hulls (pontoons) often made of fiberglass that can be used in shallow waters.

Yacht Style Categories

Yachts can further be grouped or defined according to their form and function, such as with flybridge, sedan, pilot house, and sportfish yachts, for example.

• Classic Motor Yacht: a yacht that was built between the 1920s and 1970s (before today’s modern technology began dominating modern yacht manufacturing). A modern yacht can be built based on the classic motor yacht style.
• Sedan: a popular yacht style with deck space above the hull and living quarters below. The living quarters of a sedan yacht are enclosed and single-level.
• Flybridge: a sedan-style yacht with an open deck and more comfortable living space above the main bridge of a vessel.
• Daybridge: a multi-level yacht that is even more open than a flybridge. Belize Motoryachts are known for creating this distinctive style of yacht.
• Open or Enclosed: a term used to describe the layout of and access to the flybridge. In an enclosed flybridge, access to the above flybridge is enclosed inside the living space. In an open flybridge, access to the flybridge above is open to the elements.
• Downeast Style: a low-profile yacht with a large working cockpit and small helm station. This highly recognizable style is inspired by the mid-1900s traditional Maine lobster boat. Back Cove yachts are a shining example of downeast-style inspired yachts.
• Pilothouse: A multi-deck yacht like a flybridge with a larger interior main deck.
• Sky Lounge: an enclosed area at the top of the vessel that provides the benefits of the view but with several amenities, protection from the elements, expansive windows and sometimes a sunroof.
• Cockpit Motor Yacht: a yacht with more cockpit space than deck space.
• Sportfish or Sport Fishing Yacht: A yacht used for fishing with a large cockpit, storage space, and the ability to handle rougher seas. These can also be referred to as Flybridge Sportfish or Sportfish Express and are built for longer durations out on the water.
• Convertible: a yacht that combines features of a standard motor yacht with a sportfish yacht to have entertaining space when you need it, and also fishing space when you need it.
• SUV: a yacht that combines features of a standard motor yacht and sport yacht.
• Tri-Decks : a superyacht with three levels of staggered, enclosed living space.
• Expedition Yachts: a large yacht with a deeper displacement hull for more stability and comfort during longer-range trips.

There are dozens of governing bodies, societies, and other organizations that set standards, classifications, and definitions in the world of boating. There are different authorities like this all over the world, so it’s a good idea to check-in with local groups or areas you plan to visit.

If you’re in the market for a new boat or yacht, head over to Van Isle Marina on Harbour Road in Sidney, BC. You can browse our selection of yachts for sale on our website, but be sure to stop by the marina to check out our facilities, fuel dock and Sea Glass Waterfront Grill .

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“Boat” vs. “Ship”: Chart A Course To Understand The Difference

• Boat Vs. Ship
• Yacht Vs. Boat

Ahoy, me hearties! A true seadog worth their salt would never let aboard a landlubber who calls their ship a boat . That kind of mixup is the talk that gets you walking the plank!

In this article, we’ll sail the seven seas of nautical knowledge to define the difference between the words ship and boat , explain what they refer to in technical and casual use, provide examples of different kinds of both ships and boats , and we’ll even clear up the meaning of the word yacht .

🚢 Quick summary

In casual use, the word boat is often used to refer to any watergoing vessel, regardless of its size or how it’s powered. However, large oceanfaring watercraft—those that use multiple sails or engines—are more properly called ships . In contrast, the word ship isn’t commonly applied to smaller craft. The word yacht is typically used to refer to any larger noncommercial vessel—one used for sailing or other recreation, as opposed to business.

What’s the difference between a boat and a ship ?

By definition, a boat is “a vessel for transport by water,” “a small ship,” or “a vessel of any size built for navigation of rivers or inland bodies of water.” In casual use, the word boat is used to refer to any vehicle used to travel on the water—anything from a canoe to an ocean liner.

In this kind of casual and general usage, the word boat is often used to refer to watercraft of all sizes and types, as you can see in the variety of terms that include the word, such as sailboat , motorboat , fishing boat , rowboat , tugboat , paddleboat , and lifeboat .

In contrast, the word ship is typically reserved to refer to a large, ocean-faring vessel propelled by multiple sails or engines.

(Of course, the word ship is also used to refer to large, nonwater craft, such as airship and spaceship .)

In technical, nautical contexts, the word ship sometimes specifically refers to a sailing vessel that has three or more square masts. As is the case with boat , though, the word ship is applied in the name of a variety of large watercrafts, including cruise ship , cargo ship , pirate ship , battleship , longship , and steamship .

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In contexts where it’s important to distinguish the difference, the distinction made between ship and boat is typically based on the size of the craft being discussed and if it is used only for ocean or sea travel. Additionally, the word boat can refer to vessels that don’t have any sails or engines, such as a kayak or a rowboat, whereas the word ship usually refers to vessels with many sails or large engines. Even in casual usage, it’s very uncommon for someone to call a small craft a ship , unless they’re doing so jokingly.

One distinction made in nautical contexts is that the word ship often refers to vessels too large to fit inside other vessels. By contrast, the word boat is often used to refer to smaller craft that can fit inside larger ones. For example, a massive cruise ship may have a large number of lifeboats inside it.

What are you sailing? An ocean or a sea ? Learn the difference here.

Yacht vs. boat

The word yacht typically refers to a vessel used for private, noncommercial reasons (those other than business), such as sailing or racing. As a general term, the word yacht can refer to any watercraft that isn’t intended to be used to make money, which includes anything from racing sailboats to billionaires’ floating ultra-luxury mansions.

The word yacht is not used to refer to small vessels, such as row boats or canoes. In casual usage, a yacht may be referred to with the more general terms boat or ship , but certainly not all ships and boats are yachts .

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What is a Yacht?

A yacht does not have to meet any specific requirements to be considered a yacht. For our purposes a yacht is any recreational boat of around 30 feet or more that includes at least one cabin and is used for cruising or racing. This definition is not a hard and fast rule to go by as there is no settled definition for the word at all or what specifically makes a boat into a yacht.

Because a yacht is not a specific type of easily identified vessel like a pontoon boat or a fishing boat, we’ll cover the features of what makes a yacht worthy of the name so make it easier for you to identify one in the wild.

Defining What a Yacht Is

The difficulty in defining the term “yacht” is that, unlike the specific vessels mentioned above, a yacht is more of a description than a type. Yachts can be sailboats or motorboats, center console boats, house boats or any other kind of vessel that meets the generally accepted size and feature expectations of a yacht.

The definition I gave above includes a few key points:

• A yacht is a recreational boat
• A yacht is 30 feet long or more
• A yacht has at least one cabin
• A yacht is used for cruising or racing

This description allows you to weed out some things such as:

• Boats under 30 feet which most recreational boats are
• Specific purpose boats like commercial fishing vessels, barges, tugboats
• Most pontoon boats, speed boats for racing, jon boats and recreational fishing boats

Reaching a Definition

Usually when people think of yachts they’re thinking of a medium to large vessel that is well appointed and higher end with a lot of luxury features. The word evokes a sense of value and expense. We consider a yacht to be an expensive boat.

Yachts can be very similar to a cabin cruiser or day sailing boats , but the difference seems to be in size and what may be included above and beyond a “normal” boat. For these reasons, “yacht” as a term is sometimes hard to define and definitions will not be consistent from one source to another.

Motor Yacht Vs. Sailing Yacht

The initial definition of yacht that we provided doesn’t specify if a yacht is a boat that requires wind power to move or an engine. But the fact is that a yacht can be a sailing vessel or a powered vessel and either one can still qualify as a yacht.

Motor Yacht

The power source for a motor yacht is an engine. Some yachts are hybrid vessels which can run under sail but also have a backup engine in case of emergencies or if the wind is not reliable. These are sometimes called motorsailers.

Motor yachts are considered leisure vessels more often than sailing yachts due to how they work. A motor yacht takes less skill to operate than a sailing yacht.

Sailing Yacht

Sailing yachts run strictly on wind power. Most larger sail boats with cabins could be considered yachts. Many boaters still consider a sailing yacht a boat for people who are more adventurous and a little wild as they represent that idea of cutting loose at sea.  A sailing yacht is harder to operate than a motor yacht and requires more skill.

A motor yacht is going to get you where you want to go faster than a sailing yacht. That’s not to say these aren’t fast sailing vessels as modern yachts can reach great speeds, but they are still at the mercy of the wind. For that reason you’ll often see far more motor yachts around than sailing yachts as they tend to be more convenient for most boaters.

Motor yachts have no concrete average speed thanks to numerous factors that go into what makes a yacht. The largest yacht in the world is nearly 600 feet long. Obviously a boat of this size has many variables that will affect its speed compared to a 60 foot yacht. That said, yachts of any size tend to have cruising speeds that range from 20 mph to 30 mph.

Because a sailing yacht is powered by wind only it will be slower, on average, than a motor yacht. Sailing yachts often reach speeds of just 5 mph to around 10 mph. The size and construction of the vessel, its weight, and the skill of the captain can all affect these numbers.

A motor yacht has to make space for an engine room, which can get quite huge especially on large yachts. Space is also needed for fuel tanks. On some mega yachts they have fuel tanks that can hold over a million liters of fuel, which is absolutely staggering and requires a large portion of the vessel.

Motor yachts are more likely to devote space to luxury amenities like hot tubs or even swimming pools. The largest motor yachts have multiple luxury cabins, helipads, tenders, gyms and more. Some motor yachts can have up to 8 decks. You can expect a motor yacht at 150 feet to have around 50% or more space available than the exact same length in a sailing yacht. 

Sailing yachts can be designed smaller than motor yachts because they don’t need engine or fuel space. So a smaller sailing yacht can hold as many passengers as a larger motor yacht without sacrificing comfort or luxury. A sailing yacht is going to have a smaller and probably narrower structure than a motor yacht.

Sailing yachts often offer comfortable cabins but usually have few hotel-like luxuries on board.  A sailing yacht needs a lower profile to function properly. They will have fewer decks as well.

Motor yachts lend themselves more towards really having fun at sea. These are true recreational vessels. This is owing to the fact motor yachts are more likely to have tender garages and include jet skis and other equipment for getting out and having fun. 

Motor yachts also tend to be the ones that are more outfitted like small resorts. You can find dance floors, bars, swimming pools, jacuzzi tubs, gyms and more on some big luxury yachts. At some point they really start to look like small cruise ships. With the extra decks and of course because they don’t have masts in the way, there’s a lot more space for this kind of thing. 

Modern sailing yachts have been designed with more luxury features than older models and it’s not unheard of to find a jacuzzi on a sailing yacht or even a cinema on some, but it’s still a rarity when compared to motor yachts.

Sailing yachts can be used for some more limited type fun at sea – lots of snorkeling, swimming, fishing and so on, just not to the extreme that a motor yacht will do. A lot of the appeal of a sailing yacht is the fact that it’s for sailing, so the act of sailing itself is the draw. Usually people who own and operate sailing yachts want to engage in the activity of sailing, rather than the extra things you might enjoy on a motor yacht.

Cost of Motor Yachts vs Sailing Yachts

Motor yachts are more expensive than sailing yachts. The initial cost can vary widely but it’s the long term costs that nail you. Fuel and maintenance costs over time for a motor yacht will always keep raising the price. The largest motor yachts may cost millions of dollars to buy outright and also have yearly operating costs in the hundreds of thousands or even millions if they are fully crewed. The highest priced yacht in the world has a $1.5 billion price tag.

A sailing yacht continues to coast along at a much lower cost in terms of necessary maintenance. After all, you never need to refuel your sailing yacht. Some smaller yachts may cost under $30,000. 

Yacht Classifications

Yachts are often classified by size. As we defined early, any vessel over 30 feet can potentially be a yacht. But if you are talking about a vessel that is over 400 feet in length, it’s not an accurate picture to use the same term. 

We often classify yachts using common size or metric prefixes. You may have heard the terms “superyacht” and “megayacht.” These are ways of attempting to differentiate between the sizes of yachts because some of these vessels can get massive. The world’s largest yacht, the Azzam, is about 600 feet long. 

Large Yacht

According to the Commercial Yacht Code, a large yacht is any yacht that has reached 79 feet or more. At this size the boat needs to have an actual crew to keep it running. Anything under 79 feet would just be a standard yacht.

Super Yacht

To qualify as a super yacht, a vessel has to be at least 131 feet in length. Obviously this size means it needs a fairly extensive crew and, if it’s not a commercial vessel, it’s probably owned by someone extremely wealthy in order to maintain it. 

The term mega yacht is a bit sketchy which is no surprise given how there’s only a loose definition for the word “yacht” in the first place. Mega yacht and superyacht are often used synonymously. However, for some people, the term mega yacht can only be applied when the vessel reaches at least 200 feet. This doesn’t seem to be a definite rule though so if you hear the term it’s still best to look at the specs of the boat to see what’s being referred to. 

You hear this term a lot less frequently but it’s been tossed around to account for those yachts that would even leave a mega yacht in the dust. After all, if a super yacht is 131 feet and a mega yacht is 200 feet then a yacht like Azzam, at 600 feet, should probably be known by a different term since it’s so much bigger.

Giga yacht is sometimes used to represent these largest yachts. But again, this is an informal label for such a large boat and there are no hard and fast rules about what size a boat has to be in order to be called a giga yacht. In general it just means the biggest of the big. 

Racing Yachts

If the point of the yacht is specifically to be involved in racing, then it will likely be stripped down of many of the more luxurious but unnecessary amenities seen in recreational and cruising yachts. Usually a racing yacht has less space for relaxing or sleeping, for instance, but there are definitely yachts being built that offer a lot of nice features while still being designed to race.

The Bottom Line

There are no distinct rules for the size of a yacht or what it can even do. A yacht can operate under motor power or under sailing and you can use it to race, to just have fun, or for cruising. They can range in size from just 30 feet all the way up to the massive 600 foot Azzam. 

A yacht is a vessel that is fairly luxurious and used recreationally for a variety of purposes. A luxury yacht may be chartered for business or events and come with a full crew while smaller motor powered yachts and sailing yachts tend to be used for pleasure cruising.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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The 19 best motor yachts at the Southampton Boat Show 2024

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It’s a packed line-up, but if you don’t have the time to see them all, we’ve picked out a some of the boats that we think are especially worthy of your attention at the 2024 Southampton Boat Show . Keep scrolling to read more, or click on the links below to jump to the boat you want to see.

Best motor yachts at the Southampton Boat Show 2024

Sunseeker Ocean 156

Unquestionably the biggest boat making its global premiere at the Southampton show is Sunseeker’s all-new Ocean 156. Unlike last year’s Ocean 182, which started life as an Ocean 90 before having an enclosed hardtop tacked on top, the 156 was designed from the ground up as a tri-deck model. The result is a more considered and, we would argue, better looking craft. Given that it’s also considerably shorter with an LOA of 82ft 6in (the 156 in its name refers to its Gross Tonnage), that’s no mean feat.

As with all Ocean models, it’s also unusually beamy. A maximum width of 26ft 6in exactly matches that of the Sunseeker 95 Yacht and the result is a really spacious craft, relative to its length, with a broad choice of layouts. Crucially, that includes the option of a main deck owner’s cabin with all the benefits that incurs, such as bigger windows, better views, quieter nights, increased privacy and direct access to the bow lounge. That still leaves room below for four more double cabins, including a large full-beam suite amidships.

The alternative is to keep the main deck as a vast open-plan entertaining zone with the galley at the centre of the action and a variety of dining, seating and bar options filling the spaces on either side of it.

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Fairline Targa 40

Southampton will be playing host to one of the world’s most exciting sportscruisers. With lofty topsides, an upright bow and a wide beam that extends a good way forward, Fairline tells us this boat is 20% more voluminous than the old Targa 38. But while it’s clearly designed as a genuine mini-cruiser, the styling is also a delight. The snub-nosed semi-plumb bow comes with backlit stainless steel logos; the foredeck sunpad is framed by fibreglass ‘spears’; and the long plunging hull windows are dramatically mirrored in what appears to be a virtually mullion-free superstructure.

On the inside, the practical ingenuity of the cockpit is also brilliant. The aft deck is split by a pair of broadly symmetrical sunpad-cum-bench units. There’s space for a partially inflated 2.7m tender inside the port unit, as well as a hinged table to keep the deck space clear. On the starboard side, a ‘power-down beach club balcony’ extends the cockpit outwards and to make very best use of that, there’s a bench that can be reversed to face out across the water.

Princess X95 Vista

The largest boat at the show is also one of the most interesting. As an adaptation of the starkly distinctive X95, the vast interior spaces on both the open-plan, helm-free main deck and that trademark ‘Super Flybridge’ still cover virtually the entire length of the yacht. It still claims to deliver 10% more outdoor space and 40% more indoor volume than a traditional motor yacht of the same length.

And it’s still the same pioneering platform that inspired so many other builders to follow suit with their own interpretations of the long-range, explorer-style sub-100ft ‘superyacht’. But the Vista variant updates the concept in a couple of ways, firstly with a new full-length single-piece hull window, and secondly, with a new foredeck design that opens up the bow structure to provide uprated views, both through the main deck’s forward window and the exterior foredeck seating.

Though second in size to the flagship 46, the new 41 is probably the best boat in the entire fleet. Modest innovations include plenty of firsts for Targa – proper hull windows, bonded pilothouse glazing, larger side doors and cockpit boarding gates. But it’s the fact that the 41 is playful, as well as practical, that’s so pleasing.

The cockpit, for instance, features symmetrical L-shaped seating sections at the transom, opposite an aft-facing bench at the back end of the pilothouse, all ramped up with the option of flip-down seats, drop-down tables and sunbed infills.

There’s another sunbed forward plus a convertible C-shaped dinette up on the flybridge – and you even get space to sleep up to seven people, thanks to two cabins and a convertible wheelhouse dinette.

Norway’s Marex will be taking its award-winning flagship to the Southampton Boat Show in its optional (and for most people, preferable) ‘Gourmet Cruiser’ guise. This uses a massive aft galley that dominates the internal space and projects out into the cockpit with an optional bar.

You can spec this boat with the more conventional internal saloon of the ‘Scandinavia’ variant instead but rigged like this, the kitchen is very much the hub of the dayboating zone with plenty of space to cook and eat, plus four huge chest fridges in and around the galley area, so you can spend long spells at sea without returning to shore.

Back aft, the big cockpit is hemmed in securely and lined on all sides by bench seats, creating an alfresco lounge big enough for ten. You can turn this into a four-season space with tensioned canvases; and the accommodation is flexible too, thanks to a two or three-cabin layout with a pair of cleverly conceived bathrooms.

Whether you want IPS drives, sterndrives or V-drives, the 440 again offers plenty of choice, but what is really likely to put a smile on your face is the way it combines classical elegance with striking design intelligence and delivers it all in a package you would feel very proud to own.

Nord Star 33+

Southampton will host the first outboard-powered Nord Star 33+ to hit UK shores – and like the inboard variant, it looks like a very cruise-friendly boat. It features deep, wide walkaround decks with opening side gates built into the railings amidships, plus sliding doors on both sides of the pilothouse. The tinted windows are all bonded in, helping narrow the mullions for uprated views from the main saloon – and in the optional ‘Cruiser Layout’, the starboard galley comes with a full-height fridge, a gas-free stove and wide aft patio doors.

Down below, a striking full-beam mid cabin with twin beds and hanging storage is neatly accessed via a hinged seat and there’s also a permanent double in the forward cabin. In Cruiser form, it’s the central section that really shines. By putting the galley up top, it frees up the space for a wetroom on one side and a starboard heads on the other. Alternatively, you can spec both sides with a loo and shower; use the port compartment as a walk-in wardrobe; or you can opt for the standard fit-out with the galley below and larger dinette in the saloon.

Absolute Navetta 48

The smallest of Absolute’s Navetta range does a superb job for a sub 50-footer. As on the larger models, the plumb bow, raised foredeck, generous beam and trawler-style superstructure mean plenty of volume for a boat of this length. It’s big enough to sleep six adults in remarkable comfort, thanks to a pair of generous midships guest cabins and a supremely bright and spacious owner’s bow cabin.

Pocket doors and long, panoramic windows make the space feel very generous, and the bed is set on the diagonal for maximum floor space around it. That still leaves room for a couple of decent bathrooms and an additional ensuite crew cabin that you can access directly from the stern platform.

Having forged its reputation over the last 50 years through the creation of premium ocean-going sailing yachts, Rustler’s first ever motor boat will be taking centre stage in Southampton. Designed very much in the fashion of a classical gentleman’s launch, it uses a sheltered main deck saloon with twin helm seats that back onto a fully featured galley. Opposite that, a U-shaped dinette can be converted into a third double berth to supplement the owner’s bow cabin and the midships guest double.

From here, aft doors lead to a sociable outdoor cockpit with L-shaped seating in each quarter and a wet bar with additional seating forward. A central through-transom door gives access to the swim platform and further forward, side gates and walkaround decks make onboard movement equally easy.

Cormate Chase 35

Making their UK debuts in Southampton will be a couple of extremely attractive new Cormates. The Utility 27 is an ultra rapid high-end weekender with lovely looks – but with its extra length, day space and weekend cruising potential, it’s the new Chase 35 that is likely to be the bigger draw.

Extended by a foot with a revised hull for extra efficiency and stability, the new boat comes with the extraordinary option of twin 565hp Mercury Racing engines for a claimed 82-knot top end. But such is the efficiency of the hulls that even the basic twin TDI V6 270 diesels will deliver performance in the region of 46 knots, alongside cruising efficiency of less than 1.2 litres per nautical mile.

It achieves that by means of a narrow beam (around 25% of the overall length), a hull monostep and stiff, lightweight vacuum-infused construction that sees this boat tipping the scales at just 3,000kg.

Greenline 45 Fly

This is the first chance for showgoers to see the 45 Fly on UK shores since it was launched back in 2019. And we reckon this is Greenline’s most appealing boat yet.

Much of that comes down to its clever design and packaging – it looks good inside and out with a lovely bright saloon and aft galley on the main deck and three good cabins below with exceptional levels of natural light, especially in the forward VIP.

There’s also some smart thinking on the engineering side with a wide range of Yanmar or Volvo engines to choose from and the option for varying degrees of electric hybrid power. Even the base boat comes with a li-ion battery pack plus an inverter and solar panels on the saloon roof to give you mains power at anchor without the need for a noisy, smelly generator.

Balt Yachts SunCamper 31

Possibly not the fastest, prettiest or most luxurious boat at the show, but we challenge you to find a better value one than this SunCamper 31. Built by Polish yard Balt Yachts, which also manufactures craft for some much more prestigious brands, it looks like being a great little waterways cruiser for buyers on a budget.

Powered by either a single petrol outboard or small shaftdrive diesel engine, it should be just as cheap to run as it is to buy. For as little as £129,226 inc VAT you get a really bright, spacious wheelhouse with a well-equipped galley and convertible dinette, as well as sleeping space for an astonishing seven people. There’s a double cabin forward with an extra single berth under the saloon and another double aft – and we’re told the heads compartment has lots of headroom too.

Show visitors in search of a boat that marries offshore potency with stylistic flair would do well to check out the new Sargo flagship. In addition to the promise of a soft, dry ride on long offshore passages from that rigorously proven Sargo hull, the new 45 makes everything really simple.

From the easy-access fender stowage and the impeccable helm station to the wide-gauge fuel fillers and the side-opening engine bay, the basics have been really well executed on this flagship model.

In terms of its cruising credentials, it comes with a convertible dinette, an ingenious ensuite mid-cabin, a pair of forward cabins and a generous day heads, so you could feasibly sleep eight people on this boat in really decent comfort.

Enjoying its UK debut at the Southampton Boat Show is the smallest of Fjord’s elegant daycruiser fleet. It comes as standard with twin helm seats offset to starboard behind the large central console. There’s also a large aft bench and a big open deck to make the most of the boat’s fluid zero-step walkaround design. As a high-end Med-style party platform it’s a very easy boat to customise too.

There are six alternative upper deck layouts, revolving around the use of aft benches, a galley and a T-top. There are also two lower deck arrangements that subtly tweak the base layout’s bow cabin and starboard heads. But for us, this boat looks best with three helm seats, backing onto a transverse galley, with a large central dinette and an aft sunpad.

Windy 29 Huracán

New to the Southampton Boat Show will be one of the smallest Windy boats to inhabit the brand’s classical (and still much sought-after) sportscruiser format. Slotting neatly between the 27 Solano and the 32 Grand Zonda, the Windy Huracán 29 ticks all the usual Windy boxes with a step-free deep-vee hull, a choice of petrol or diesel inboard engines, a deep, wide cockpit and an aggressively raked foredeck with a step-through screen.

The deck layout is also classical Windy, thanks to an asymmetrical cockpit arrangement, featuring a pair of rotating helm seats that back onto a starboard dinette and a facing corner seat to port. Behind that, a sunpad adjoins the aft end of the dinette, with a sliding backrest for extra flexibility.

Prestige F4.9

What was originally the Prestige F4 has become the Prestige F4.9 to better reflect its 49ft length – but it’s good to see that the boat remains the same because there’s some ingenuity to the deck arrangements that makes this latest-generation Prestige flybridge cruiser feel extremely gratifying.

The ‘Ocean View Galley’, for instance, adopts a transverse layout way aft, enabling it to straddle the zone between saloon and cockpit to great effect, while also putting your eyeline at the same level as that of the seated saloon guests on the other side of the low-level glass screen. But there’s even better thinking at the bow, where the raised forward cabin takes great advantage of the extra breadth in the upper, less tapered, section of the hull, while creating natural separation from the two guest cabins further down and aft.

Make no mistake. The 68 Fly on Azimut’s Southampton show stand is a fully-fledged luxury cruising machine, brimming with light and space, opulent upholstery, designer detailing and sensible storage solutions.

But it’s also a proper driving machine. The slippery medium-V Pierluigi Ausonio hull is coupled with a pair of Volvo Penta 1,000hp IPS-1350s for a 32-knot top end and a really comfortable long-legged cruise at speeds as low as 19 knots. The weight is also kept good and deep, thanks to the use of carbon fibre in the superstructure, hardtop and deck mouldings and the agility of the handling fully reflects that.

It’s particularly pleasing then that when you step away from the helm, there’s such remarkable space and volume on offer…

Beneteau Antares 12

After nearly five decades in production, the capacity of the Antares line to imbue modestly sized platforms with big versatility is well known – and that’s nowhere more evident than on the flagship 42-footer.

While its spacious flybridge, expandable cockpit and beamy bow lounge all function very effectively as independent open-air dayboating zones, the lower deck is pretty well arranged for extended cruising too.

The owner’s bow cabin and the primary twin cabin both come with ensuite bathrooms and, while the latter is shared as a day heads, there’s still space for a modular third cabin that can be specced as a single berth, a double berth or a dedicated storage room.

Quarken 35 Cabin

After much anticipation, the Quarken 35 Cabin has done exactly what fans of the award-winning 27 had hoped. It features a twin-stepped hull with a fine entry and a flared bow, very much in line with previous models, alongside a pair of Yamaha F300s for a top speed of around 46 knots.

Like its smaller sibling, it also features an asymmetrical wheelhouse to maximise internal space, while leaving room for a deeper, wider side deck to starboard. But with its extra scale come all sorts of additional benefits. In the pilothouse, for instance, the forward-raked windscreen, plunging windows and large sunroof make both brightness and visibility very strong; and with an aft door, as well as a side door, movement around it is first-rate too.

Saxdor 400 GTC

Saxdor’s 400GTC made a brief appearance at the British Motor Yacht Show earlier in the year but Southampton will still be the first chance for more occasional showgoers to see it properly.

It’s well worth making a beeline for Saxdor’s marina berths, if only to witness the 400’s brilliantly clever convertible wheelhouse in action. With huge sliding glass doors on both sides in addition to drop-down side platforms, bi-fold rear doors, a lifting rear window and a large central sunroof, it transforms from a fully enclosed pilothouse boat to a big open party platform in a matter of seconds.

It’s no slouch either; when we tested it last month its stepped hull and twin 400hp Mercury outboard engines pushed it to a top speed of 43 knots and would have gone quicker still if the wind and water had been a bit kinder. The choppy conditions did, however, give us the chance to explore its seakeeping manners and despite all those moving parts, it acquitted itself remarkably well, punching confidently through the waves without excessive shake, rattle and roll.

Perhaps best of all, prices start at £323,995 in the UK – surprisingly reasonable for a 40ft boat with so many strings to its bow.

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New Boats at Southampton Boat Show: Greenline 45 Fly

New boats at southampton boat show: azimut 68, new boats at southampton boat show: fjord 39xl, latest videos, princess s65 sea trial and tour: £2m sportsfly ticks all the boxes, watch: beneteau swift trawler 54 sea trial – £1.4m cruiser is the ultimate home, watch: parker sorrento sea trial: 50-knot cruiser with a killer aft cabin, watch: virtue v10 sea trial: €272k weekender.

More From Forbes

Azimut|benetti group report strong growth at cannes yachting festival.

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In attendance at the Cannes Yachting Festival last week, Azimut|Benetti announced robust revenue for ... [+] 2023-2024, an ambitious forecast ahead despite uncertain market conditions, and a new collaboration with Volvo Penta. Pictured here is the Azimut Fly 62, presented at Cannes, with reinvented forward cockpit and open stern.

Italian yachting group Azimut|Benetti broadcast rather pleasant news at a press conference at the opening of the Cannes Yachting Festival , September 10, 2024. Noting a strong upward trend in the Group's fiscal status, the team announced revenues were up from $935 million (€840 million) in 2020-21 to $1.45 billion (€1.3 billion) in 2023-24, signaling a robust 55% growth.

Azimut|Benetti By The Numbers

The financial year to August 31, 2024 provided a 30 percent increase in profitability, year-on-year, citing business growth and increased operating efficiency. Additionally, new orders as of January 1, 2024 ensure continued success totalling $2.9 billion (€2.6 billion). That backlog distribution comes from a broad mix of 40 percent European, 37 percent from the Americas, and 23 percent from MEA APAC customers. Azimut|Benetti expects double digit growth in 2024-25, aiming at a new revenue target of $1.7 billion (€1.5 billion).

To continue the trend, the Group has a €160 million investment plan supporting the company's strategic priorities. Additionally, a further $48.1 (€43.2 million) is earmarked for R & D and new product development, and $15.5 million (€13.9 million) to go toward digitalization and virtual reality used in prototype, design, and communication with owners throughout the purchase and build of their yachts.

Some might think these numbers optimistic, but from Azimut|Benetti's point of view, the outlook is not only realistic, but reassuring.

"After a period of unprecedented growth, we are now experiencing a physiological contraction of the market, which the Group can manage from a position of strength thanks to the significant order backlog," states Marco Valle, Azimut|Benetti Group CEO. He continued, "In this scenario, the Group's strategies have made and will make the difference: innovative yachts and the correct positioning of the Azimut and Benetti brands, a broad-based international presence and ongoing production evolution."

Azimut's Seadeck 7 was on display at last week's Cannes Yachting Festival, September 10-15, marking ... [+] a first for the collaboration between Volvo Penta and Azimut.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, another announcement at cannes.

Azimut|Benetti and Volvo Penta unveiled the world's first yacht boasting a combination of Volvo Penta with hybrid power. The new Azimut Seadeck 7 piloted Volvo Penta's helm-to-propeller hybrid-electric package for the first collaboration with Azimut.

The Seadeck 7, using hybrid-electric technology, can cruise in pure electric mode up to 11 knots and can stay at anchor with zero emissions for up to 12 hours. It marks a unique milestone as the first time a yacht will use diesel engines, electric motors, and batteries paired with the efficiency of Volvo Penta IPS drives , operating in hybrid mode without use of a generator.

"When it comes to reducing CO2 emissions, our approach is aimed at generating tangible results now, also by developing new solutions that we are already implementing at a prototype stage," notes Giovanna Vitelli, Chair of Azimut|Benetti Group.

Vitelli further explains that, "The Volvo Penta hybrid-electric package installed on the Seadeck 7 has a mode of use similar to that of cars, meaning that it shifts from electric to diesel based on speed." That ensures the yacht is easy to use, consumes less fuel, emits less CO2, and improves the on board experience for guests. "Everything is in place to change the rules of the game,"Vitelli concludes.

Additional features of the Seadeck 7, displayed at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 10-15, include joystick docking, joystick steering, dynamic positioning system, and a glass cockpit system with hybrid-electric driver interface view displaying important data.

More News At The Upcoming Monaco Yacht Show

Ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show , Azimut|Benetti will again take the spotlight for a media conference at Hôtel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo on September 26, 2024. Entitled "The Shape of the Future," the presentation will be dedicated to innovation, design, and advanced technology.

Stand Azimut is scheduled to be located in Port Hercule along the Quai des États-Unis at QE7, featuring the Magellano 30-meter, the Grande 36-meter, and the Grande Trideck, docked at E01, E03, and E04.

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