Is it time to ditch the word "Yacht" ?

boatone

boatone

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Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

Is the word yacht doing us a disservice?

Owners of a £100,000 narrow boat are perceived as ' nice middle aged/elderly working/middle class people enjoying a hobby.

Owners of second hand £50,000 cruisers are perceived as rich fat cat poshies.

Is it time to give ourselves an image makeover? Should we become boaters instead of yachtsmen?

The ATYC, TMYC, MTYC, UTMYC all sport that dreaded word yacht !

How about the Association of Thames Boat Owners - doesnt that sound so much more middle of the road?
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

Your licence calls your pride and joy a "launch" so that could be an alternative. Mind you, ATLC, TMLC, MTLC, UTMLC all sound like acronyms of serious medical conditions:-)

I'm dirt poor, actually I aspire to that level of brokeness but "yacht" does have a pleasing air of Edwardian gentility than "launch" does not own, unless the word "slipper" is used as a prefix.
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

Sounds like something a Magistrate would dish out! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

The word 'launch' is really a quaint carry-over from days gone by and not really suited to 21st Century imho.

We live iin a world where public opinion carries far gereater sway than it ever did and how we are perceived by the public must be of concern to us?

Just measure the different implications of:

"I am a boat owner"
"I own a yacht"

Which would you feel more comfortable with? Which would you expect joe public to have more sympathy for?
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

Quick survey of three of my youngest's friends yestereve.

"Who can draw a yacht?"

Three pictures of sailing boats. Youngest tells all her freinds that "our boat has engines".

You can often get the same in a primary school if you ask the kids to draw a railway engine. 25 pictrues of Thomas and the one who's dad has a model railway may draw a diesel locomotive.

It might be very instructive to compare the running costs of Joe Average's £25K boat on a cheap mooring with someone paying for a full Sky subscription, three nights in the pub, 2 weeks in Majorca for 5 people, 20 football matches a year and so forth.

However, I do agree that B1 has a valid point, the Y word is used by politics of envy types with which to beat innocent boaters.
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

Well I certainly don't have a yacht.

I tell everyone that I have a big pinnace. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

Actualy I think the word "Club" on the end of all those is probably a bigger problem. Association, Users, Owners etc... all have less Cliquey images.

Aspiring to own a Yacht is ok, but to aspire to be member of a "Club" is a bit more dodgy.
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

I would never describe my humble-yet-beautiful little Birchy as a Yacht, not even in the company of a family of Slovakian peasants, but I consider most leisure vessels over 60 feet to be 'Yachts' although my own description in discussion terms would be 'Boat'

I settle for 'Cruiser' as it's far less likely to attract spite... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

So go full circle?
I still have a burgee for the UTMBC from my father's days (early '60's).
I am pretty certain that TMYC started out as TMBC, but may be not. In those days their boats were generally much larger than ours.
It was changed to Yacht club when boats started getting quite large (40 footers) when 20 to 25 footers were the norm'.
Nowadays everyone has caught up and those early 40 footers that cost serious money are now 40 years old and owned by peasants like us.
I somehow don't see them changing!!
Interestingly ODCC (Oxford Ditch Cruiser Club) remained unchanged as did Bray Cruiser Club.
I have never referred to my boats as Yachts. They have always been Motor Cruisers.
I can't believe our resident "antiquarian" historian does not have a view on this! Byron?!!
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

Hasn't your honourarary membership of the Thames forum expired now Geoff?

That'll be two quid a post now.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

In the grand scheme of things, it really doesnt bother me?

Yacht can also mean a 20foot "Sailing Boat" with the toilet under the seat.

Come on Tony, you are itching to join a Yacht club, dont fight it!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Is it time to ditch the word \"Yacht\" ?

[ QUOTE ]

I can't believe our resident "antiquarian" historian does not have a view on this! Byron?!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I always referred to my vessels as 'Cruisers' but only because landlubbers think of something with sails if you say 'yacht' or when occasionally in more exalted company say 'yacht' and they assume you have something to land your Bell Jet Ranger on.
Historically the word yacht was used by the first clubs because that is exactly what they were. Then came steam boats followed by petrol/diesel boats so they prefixed 'yacht' with the type i.e. Twin screw diesel (yacht)
 
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