What's a yacht?

Rick486 · Nov 9, 2018

Actually, Tiger's original motor yacht "Privacy" was around 120 ft and set him back more like $100 M. As befits a man whose net worth at that time was around $1.5 B.
I was brought up that anything with a sail on it is a yacht, right down to an 8 ft Turnabout.

WayneH · Nov 9, 2018

Boat = Break Out Another Thousand
Yacht = Yet Another Couple Hundred Thousand

So far, I've got a boat. If I win the lottery, (oh, yeah, tickets required) I might start spending yacht bucks.

Don S/V ILLusion · Nov 9, 2018

Kind of the same difference as a lawyer, attorney or barrister. It depends on where you live or how self-important you want to sound.

I call ours a boat. My wife sometimes refers to it as the f...ing boat.

Michael Davis · Nov 9, 2018

Yacht..... from the Dutch "jacht" a light fast sailing vessel.
Therefore you have a yacht; Tiger only has a motor boat!

Kings Gambit · Nov 9, 2018

A yacht these days is a self-righting, self-bailing sailboat with a galley and an auxillary inboard engine, usually a diesel. Typically used for pleasure boating.

justsomeguy · Nov 9, 2018

"The ability to take a hot shower below decks" or so I've heard, is the difference between yachting and boat camping.

JamesG161 · Nov 9, 2018

Yacht is just a means of saying or showing...

Mine is bigger than yours!

We all know size doesn't matter.

Yachtsman...
Jim...

Don S/V ILLusion · Nov 9, 2018

If size matters, call it a "ship". Otherwise, its a difference without a distinction.

agprice22 · Nov 9, 2018

Any vessel designated for pleasure. My wife... yeah, I better not finish this sentence!

capta · Nov 9, 2018

A yacht is not what we sail!
IMO, a yacht is in bristol condition at all times, be it powered by wind or engine. Topsides polished, varnish so deep you can fall into it, windows and glass spot and finger-printless. An engine room or space that you could serve food from the floor or machinery.
I've been the captain on them and wouldn't particularly like to live that way in my own home (boat). Basically an operational showpiece.

Ted · Nov 9, 2018

A yacht is any size boat that you can't possibly afford to pay someone else to maintain for you.

justsomeguy · Nov 9, 2018

capta said:
a yacht is in bristol condition at all times,

Welp, that leaves my boat out.

justsomeguy · Nov 9, 2018

Ted said:
A yacht is any size boat that you can't possibly afford to pay someone else to maintain for you.

I'm back, baby!

Gunni · Nov 9, 2018

justsomeguy said:
"The ability to take a hot shower below decks" or so I've heard, is the difference between yachting and boat camping.

No, that is the difference between a boat and IRS approved second-home tax write-off.

Dalliance · Nov 9, 2018

A yacht is a boat bigger than the one you own. I have a little sailboat. And I’m fine with that.

justsomeguy · Nov 9, 2018

Gunni said:
No, that is the difference between a boat and IRS approved second-home tax write-off.

I've heard a kitchen and a place to sleep were the qualifiers.
Friggin' IRS...

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Nov 9, 2018

a yacht is a vessel used primarily for pleasure

justsomeguy · Nov 9, 2018

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani said:
a yacht is a vessel used primarily for pleasure

Period!

Will Gilmore · Nov 9, 2018

capta said:
A yacht is not what we sail!
IMO, a yacht is in bristol condition at all times, be it powered by wind or engine. Topsides polished, varnish so deep you can fall into it, windows and glass spot and finger-printless. An engine room or space that you could serve food from the floor or machinery.
I've been the captain on them and wouldn't particularly like to live that way in my own home (boat). Basically an operational showpiece.

Ted said:
A yacht is any size boat that you can't possibly afford to pay someone else to maintain for you.

I always thought of a yacht just as capta and Ted both state, but with the addition that you neither do the upkeep yourself nor sail her yourself. Therefore, a yacht is, simply put, floating dept. Thus most pleasure boat owners own a yacht.
Now yachting is different. One can go yachting on any pleasure boat. It's all about the hat.

And the crevat.

-Will (Dragonfly)