If you’re looking at buying a yacht but aren’t sure which type of yacht would be best for you, we’ve put together a guide exploring the different types of yachts to help you decide which yacht would most suit your lifestyle.
It’s best to factor in what features you’re looking for and how you want to use your new yacht to ensure you get the most out of your investment. First, we’ll go through the different types of yachts you’ll find on the market, and then we’ll go on to what you should consider to help inform your decision on the best yacht type for you.
Types of yachts
From motor yachts to mega yachts, our list of yacht types below covers a wide range of uses and features, helping you to better understand the best yacht type for your needs.
Sailing Dinghies
A sailing dinghy is a small open boat with a single sail, which, with some knowledge of wind direction and points of sail, you can use to move the dinghy across the water.
Dinghies are a great place to start for the beginner sailor for several reasons, such as:
- Their small size makes them easier to navigate (usually less than 10m in length)
- They can be more affordable than purchasing a yacht
- They can be a great way to pick up the basic skills of sailing.
Some of the most popular manufacturers of sailing dinghies are Laser, Topaz, and RS.
Motor yachts
Next on our list of yacht types is a popular choice with many sailors in the yachting world. Motor yachts offer a simpler way of getting around on the water without having to rely on sailing expertise, as they’re powered by an engine rather than a sail. They’re also more flexible and time-efficient, as you aren’t relying on the right weather conditions to get your boat moving.
Motor yachts are often equipped with ample space and amenities for passengers on board. Their sizes range from around 10m to 24m (a yacht above 15m would be considered a large yacht). Popular brands of motor yachts include Fairline and Princess.
Sailing yachts
For a boat to be classed as a sailing yacht, its main power source needs to be the wind through its sails. However, it’s not uncommon for sailing yachts to come with a motor onboard, too, for when there is less wind. One advantage to using a sailing yacht is that they can be more environmentally friendly than yachts with an engine as their main power source as they use less fuel.
Sailing yachts usually have just one hull (monohull) but require some sailing knowledge to operate them correctly. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, the Royal Yachting Association offers courses on sailing and navigation that can help give you the knowledge and experience to become a more confident sailor.
Depending on the size of the sailing yacht, you may need two or more people on board to help you with steering and moving the sails simultaneously. Popular manufacturers of sailing yachts include Oyster, Westerly, and Southerly.
Racing yachts
As you might have guessed, racing yachts are a type of yacht made for competitive yacht racing. There are several racing yacht classes, including monohull and multihull vessels (such as catamarans, which we’ll cover next). Racing yachts are often made of Kevlar or Carbon to make them lighter than the average yacht, with high-end navigation and steering systems designed especially for racing.
The hull of a racing yacht often has a more definite V-shape, and some also have hydrofoils, which help lift the front of the boat out of the water as it moves. These features make racing yachts excellent for competition but can also make them more expensive to buy and maintain. Popular manufacturers of racing yachts include X-Yachts and Farr.
Multihull
A multihull yacht usually has two (catamaran) or sometimes three (trimaran) hulls connected by a large platform. Multihulls are often more popular with sailors due to their increased stability in choppy water and the additional deck space they can provide compared to a monohull yacht.
Another feature of a multihull is a shallow draught. This is the distance between the waterline and the lowest part of the boat, which can make engine-powered vessels more fuel efficient as they experience less resistance when moving through the water. Multihulls come in both a powerboat and sailing variety, with advantages to both depending on what you’re looking for. Popular manufacturers of multihulls include Seawind and Xquisite Yachts.
Superyachts
Although there is no official guide, a yacht is usually classed as a superyacht once it is between 24 and 60 metres long. Superyachts will be more expensive than many other yacht types on this list, but you’ll also have the benefit of being able to have more amenities on board due to the additional space. You’ll also find that superyachts are often made to order, so they’re entirely tailored to the owner’s needs.
Megayachts
Megayachts are considered to be yachts that are over 60 metres long. You’re more likely to find these kinds of yachts owned by the uber-rich, as they can cost millions or even billions of pounds.
Currently, the Azzam is the largest yacht in the world (in length), at just over 180m long (that’s nearly double the height of Big Ben). The Azzam was built by Lürssen, a German bespoke shipbuilder that has built seven of the top ten biggest yachts in the world
Choosing the right type of yacht for your need
When considering which type of yacht is best for you, it’s important to consider what you will be using it for, your budget, where you’ll store it, and how you will maintain it
Purpos
The purpose of your yacht is one of the most important deciding factors when selecting your yacht type. Whether you’re using it for holiday cruising, racing, or day trips, this will have a huge impact on which yacht type best suits your needs.
Size
Your budget will likely dictate the size of the yacht you’re looking for, as well as how many people you want to be able to sail with and how much space you want on board the yacht.
Skill
At the risk of stating the obvious, if you want to buy a yacht that you can sail yourself, make sure you know your limits. Also, consider how many people you will need on board to help you sail it, whether that’s crew that you hire or people from your own party. It’s always worth taking some courses through the Royal Yachting Association to work on your skill and confidence in sailing too.
Budget
When it comes to yacht costs, there’s a lot you need to factor in. This includes the initial buying price, maintenance, storage, docking fees, fuel, insurance, and crew if you want a larger vessel. Read our blog on yacht costs for a further breakdown of the expenses you should consider in your budget.
Maintenance
In terms of maintenance, consider the amount of time and money you’ll be able to commit to keeping your yacht in good condition and how much of the maintenance you’ll be able to carry out yourself. If you want to carry out the maintenance on your boat yourself, consider buying a yacht where the main components (such as the engine) are accessible.
Location and storage
Lastly, different types of yachts will provide you with varying storage options. For example, Europe’s largest indoor dry stack can store boats with a max size of 13m, so if you are looking for a larger yacht, this option may not be available to you.
The size of your yacht will also affect how much you will need to pay to store and dock it in a marina or boat yard as you’ll require more space. It’s also best to plan out where you’ll want to keep your yacht and research the storage and docking options in that location for future reference
Specialist yacht insurance through Craftinsure
Once you’ve found the ideal yacht for your adventures, you may want to protect it with specialist yacht insurance.
At Craftinsure, we arrange policies that include up to £5m of third-party liability insurance and cover for theft and damage to your yacht, so you have complete peace of mind
Learn how we can help here, and get an instant online quote today.
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