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.

Are you looking to rent a boat? Maybe even buy one? You want to choose the right one. After all, as pleasurable and beneficial as boating is, the wrong kind of boat might spoil that pleasure a bit. While you can sleep in a fishing boat and fish off a cabin cruiser, it won’t be as great as fishing off a fishing boat and sleeping in a cabin cruiser. Choose the boat for the primary activity you plan to do on the boat. Read on to learn about different types of boats and how to choose the best one for you.

Types of fishing boats

As the name suggests, fishing boats are great for fishing. There can be different types of fishing boats. The main ones are:

All-purpose fishing boats. They are usually made from aluminum and have higher sides. These fishing boats have maximum versatility, allowing you to fish whatever you want wherever you want comfortably. 

Bass boats are for fishing bass and similar fish. They are lower to the water, so you can bend and pick up the bass by hand. They usually have a fiberglass hull and high horsepower.

Bay boats or flats boats are great in shallow water, such as coastal bays and marshy areas. However, they are not so good in rough waters. They technically have a center console but do not confuse them with center console boats. These are fishing boats that you can use as day boats. Center console boats are better offshore, large lakes and oceans. 

A fish and ski boat is half a fishing boat, half a day boat. It is perfect for watersports. They have sections to sit and relax but also such features as fish finders. You can wholesomely enjoy family time, watersports, and fishing on such boats. 

Different types of day and family boats

Bowriders are super versatile. You can fish, relax, basically do it all. They are great for rough waters and come in different sizes: from 17 to 40 ft. 

Deck boats are similar to bowriders but have more board space, are larger and heavier. They are also easier to get on and off. 

Pontoons are superb for relaxation. A lot of people, as well as gear, fit on pontoon boats. They are very comfortable, so choose them if you want to spend time on the water relaxing. 

High-performance boats, as the name suggests, are about fun and speed. They are great in rough waters and very speedy. They are also quite loud, just like high-performance cars.

Watersports boats, also known as wake boats or ski boats, are all about watersports. So they are the best boats to enjoy wakeboarding, wake surfing, tubing, and water skiing. 

Boats you can sleep on

Cuddy cabins. They are a mix between a day boat and an overnight boat. They have a small cabin, where you can sleep. Cuddy cabins are both agile and versatile. However, nowadays few cuddy cabins are made new. You can find used ones, though. 

Cabin cruisers. They are like a cottage on the water and can sleep from 2 to 6 people. Cabin cruisers are usually between 24 and 40 ft in length. Similar to cabin cruisers are salon-style boats. They have an open concept salon and sleeping quarters on a lower level.

Flybridge boats have a unique design: the steering area is on a flybridge above the main cabin. It means that it provides very high visibility. It also has a lot of space for living onboard or entertaining.

Finally, there are trawlers, the largest boats. They are meant for long journeys and are not very speedy but very comfortable: they are steady, have living quarters and small kitchens. They are great for seas and rough waters.

Keep in mind that some of the boats, such as flybridges and trawlers, can also classify as yachts. Yachts are luxury vessels, which are usually at least 30 ft long. Learn more about yacht types here. 

Also, all of the boats mentioned above have motors. But there are also sailboats, which use the wind as a propeller. Bigger sailboats are also considered to be yachts. There are also some other types of boats, like personal watercraft.

How do you choose the right boat?

When choosing the boat, ask yourself several questions: how do you plan to use the boat? Where will you use it? What would you like to do on the boat? How many people are you going to bring? It will help you decide which boat type is best for you. 

We hope you enjoyed this article about different types of boats. Are you interested in renting one? Read our tips for renting a boat.