When Is a Sailboat a Yacht ?

[swagman]

From the Oxford English Dictionary

yacht XVI. — early modern Dutch. jaght(e), now jacht, short for jaghtschip (ship for chasing), f. jaght hunting, chase, f. jagen hunt, chase; see -T2.
Hence yachting (-ING1), yachtsman XIX.

IMHO a yacht is therefore any fast pleasure boat, while sailboat is probably a derivative of sailing boat, which helps describe the vessel (just as power boat does).

JOHN

[Don1500]

When your negotiating to buy a boat , you call it a boat. But you sell your Yacht.

[Jetexas]

I believe in technical terms, it's any pleasure vessel, but especially sailboats, over 25'. The term came from yacht racing. As the sport grew, I believe the 25' mark eventually distinguished the delineation between dinghy raching and yacht racing.

[IdoraKeeper]

Originally Posted by Stillraining

A yacht is for relaxing on, not working on.

My floating real estate has required to much blood , sweat and tears to be called a Yacht.

Its a work boat plain and simple...

Oh no! I have seen the pictures of that stainless mast capture device and that could only be installed in a yacht.

I just wonder if I can find time to own a Yacht without being a "yachtie".

Todd

[rtbates]

Depends on ones level of pretetiousness...

[wolfenzee]

No matter how fancy and elegant I might make my boat look...I will never be able to bring myself to call it a yacht...she is my home.

Originally Posted by rtbates

Depends on ones level of pretetiousness...

[MJWEENZ]

FWIW, I have heard more than once it was a pleasurecraft over 40'.

[SaucySailoress]

We once had a 40' Kalik, which we proudly called called our 'yacht'. This was to distinguish her (when talking to crew about racing) from the beachcats, which we proudly call the 'cats'. Hence we have 'cat' races and 'yacht' races; nicely arranged on a;ternate weekends so everyone who wants to can do both. (This is Kuwait, we don't have a huge choice of either boats or crew).

Then something happened to our yacht. She grew 3' when Hubby added a scoop to the back. From then on she became known as the 'Superyacht'.

Because we think she's just super.

[anotherT34C]

For me, it doesn't seem to be based on length or $$ spent. "Yachts" are like works of art, while "sailboats" are more seemingly purposeful.

A Valiant 40, decked out with cruising gear, is a cruising sailboat. A Concordia 38, with crisp sails, bronze fittings, and fresh varnish, is a yacht.

Alternately, I often hear that a "yacht" is a sailboat with paid crewmembers.

[BubbleHeadMd]

Originally Posted by FrankZ

A yacht is a boat two feet longer than the one you have.

I think I identify with this definitition the best.

[SurferShane]

I am more worried about when my little boat/yacht becomes a “ship”. The way I look at it is due the Australian registration it is truly a “ship”. Now does that mean I am the “Captain”?

[anglooff]

In Britain when you register your boat/craft/yacht etc. One does is in the Small ship Registry. Therefore perhaps from now on...When asked I shall say I have a "small ship"

Regards

Alan

[wolfenzee]

As far as I am concerned a yacht is one of two states of mind, either that of a pretentious boat owner or that resulting from a boat that has been well thought out, equipped, cared for and whose beauty also reflects the love of the owner.

Also any vessel over 65' is technically a ship.

[Healer52]

A yacht is a boat you spend more time cleaning and polishing than sailing

[zopi]

Ok..I got this one...once up in Newport, I was stationed aboard the good ship Capodanno, and mentioned to the clerk at the Exchange that I needed to get back to the boat in a hurry...turns out she was a busybody old navy wife and galley lawyer...she informed me that it was a ship, not a boat...well...you might imagine that caught me athwart the hawse (sorry, been reading patrick obrien again..) I told her I had to live on the bloody thing and I'd call it WTF I pleased to....

So if it makes you feel better to call it a yacht..call it a yacht...a rose by any other name...

I might name my next boat "Davalka." It'll crack the russians up, at any rate..