Are you thinking about renting out a yacht? What kind would you like? Then read on! This article covers different types of yachts and their advantages. It might help you decide which kind is the best for you!
What is a yacht, anyway?
The answer to this seemingly simple question is more complicated than you might think. Even the dictionaries can’t agree. The Cambridge dictionary provides two definitions. The first one is “a boat with sails and sometimes an engine, used for either racing or traveling on for pleasure.” The other one, which is more common in the US, states that a yacht is a “large and usually expensive boat, used for racing or traveling around for pleasure.” That’s the one we are going by too. And we will only focus on yachts for pleasure purposes. Sorry, yacht racers.
So, how large is this “large boat”? Most sites state that a yacht is at least 30 ft long. It should also have some cabins and amenities so that people feel comfortable aboard. Some boat owners say that yachts must be longer: according to some, it’s only from 78 ft that it is a yacht. Usually, a yacht of this length is considered a superyacht. And if it’s over 164 ft or 50 m, it’s a megayacht.
One of the most popular types: motor yachts
Some people still think that only wooden boats with sails are yachts. While it’s a common type, motor yachts are probably more popular. Instead of sails, they have an engine, and you mustn’t know how to sail! You must know how to control a motor yacht, of course, but it’s easier than sailing one. They are also perfect for parties and can include many features, such as hot tubs! As well as various water toys, fishing gear and more. Vacationers also often use motor yachts to travel from one place to another.
There are very many subtypes of motor yachts. For example, there are express cruisers, which are faster than cabin cruiser yachts. Motor yachts can also have very distinct shapes. For example, there is the flybridge yacht, which has an open area where the roof of the yacht would be, usually covered by a hardtop. Hardtop motor yachts do not have such a feature. There are also fully-enclosed motor yachts with hardly any open areas. They look very smooth, though. There are also trawlers, which remind workboats a little bit. They are great for long journeys. And fishing yachts have all the comforts of the usual ones but also allow you to enjoy fishing to the fullest. There are also houseboats, which look exactly like a house but are floating on water! If you are interested in motor yachts, check out this video which extensively explores many types of power yachts.
Some types, describing the design, can be both motor and sailing yachts. For example, a catamaran has two parallel hulls and it can either have an engine or sails. There are also trimarans with three hulls. And yachts with even four or five hulls!
Sailing yachts and other types
Do you want to experience what it is like to sail a boat completely on your own, just like in old times? This is the main reason why people choose sailing yachts. Of course, you must know how to sail. Some sailing yachts only have sails, while others are hybrids: they also have motors installed so you can return to the port safely in case something goes bad. There are also classic yachts, built in the past. Many of these were handcrafted and have a very different feeling from modern boats. Of course, they are also more expensive to charter.
If you want an even more exotic feel, try a Gulet yacht! It’s a Turkish two-masted (and sometimes three-masted) wooden sailing yacht. In the past, people used gulets for fishing. Nowadays, they are very popular among tourists for pleasure purposes. It has both a motor and sails.
Sailing yachts are often classified according to hulls (monohull, catamaran, or multi-hull). These all have classes: for example, monohull classes are dinghy, sloop, cutter, ketch, catboat, and schooner. They can also be classified according to keels.
Now you know quite a bit about different types of yachts. Perhaps you will now know which one is the best fit for you. If you already know that and are planning to rent one, check out this article on how to rent a yacht affordably and best yachting destinations in the Mediterranean.