Pompous Boat Terminology and Boat Owners

[Irish Rover]

I have never referred to my floaty thing as anything other than a boat, except when things go wrong, and I refer to it as a heap of shit. Many owners of relatively small boats, especially ones with big poles in the center, refer to them as yachts. I have no great issue with that, if it's what pleases them. However, some of the other pompous nonsense gets on my wick. A guy on social media this morning referring to one of the cabins on his Leopard 39PC as "the Master Stateroom" is well up there.

 

[WoodyP]

I seem to recall that Claymore used to refer to the Fornicatorium

 

[lustyd]

You need to get out more. These are just terms from other places. In the US a cabin is quite commonly called a stateroom and in the UK anything with a sail is a yacht.

 

[Stemar]

A good few years ago, Madame tutored French. One of the snottier parents she had to deal with said, one day, "we went to St Tropez for the weekend. What did you do?"

"Oh, we sailed to Cowes on my husband's yacht."

Madame was treated with a good deal more respect after that. She didn't find it necessary to mention that the yacht in question was a slightly scruffy Snapdragon 24, well into middle age.

 

[doug748]

When did the seabed become substrate?

 

[Irish Rover]

You need to get out more. These are just terms from other places. In the US a cabin is quite commonly called a stateroom and in the UK anything with a sail is a yacht.

I know. That's why I said they're pompous.

 

[ProDave]

We stayed a night as visitors in our Leisure 17 in a harbour full of small motor boats. Speaking to one of the local boat owners he said "Ah you are from the yacht"

Not how I would normally refer to a L17

 

[lustyd]

I know. That's why I said they're pompous.

For using their own language? I'd suggest the issue lies with you for not being open to other cultures. It's sad that you feel a need to attack what you don't understand.

 

[Irish Rover]

For using their own language? I'd suggest the issue lies with you for not being open to other cultures. It's sad that you feel a need to attack what you don't understand.

Easy up, Squire. It's a bit of craic. Don't be getting your rodes in a knot.

 

[doug748]

You need to get out more. These are just terms from other places. In the US a cabin is quite commonly called a stateroom and in the UK anything with a sail is a yacht.

They might think again if they had to get their plush backsides into the Master Stateroom of an Achilles 24.



.

 

[lustyd]

Easy up, Squire. It's a bit of craic. Don't be getting your rodes in a knot.

You need to work on your self awareness. Not everything you find funny is socially acceptable, and attacking other cultures is right up there.

 

[Irish Rover]

You need to work on your self awareness. Not everything you find funny is socially acceptable, and attacking other cultures is right up there.

Fair play, you're always good for a laugh .

 

[ridgy]

Some american skippers like to refer to themselves as captain.

 

[lustyd]

Some american skippers like to refer to themselves as captain.

Because they are the captain. Elsewhere we use the less formal skipper in place of captain but it means the same thing.

 

[Irish Rover]

Some american skippers like to refer to themselves as captain.

Here in Türkiye guys in the marina who don't know you very well will address you as Kaptan. They also address minibus drivers as Kaptan.

 

[Irish Rover]

Because they are the captain. Elsewhere we use the less formal skipper in place of captain but it means the same thing.

 

[Jules W]

I have never referred to my floaty thing as anything other than a boat, except when things go wrong, and I refer to it as a heap of shit. Many owners of relatively small boats, especially ones with big poles in the center, refer to them as yachts. I have no great issue with that, if it's what pleases them. However, some of the other pompous nonsense gets on my wick. A guy on social media this morning referring to one of the cabins on his Leopard 39PC as "the Master Stateroom" is well up there.

Some years ago our friends had an old Angus Primrose Moody. It had that deep area by the anchor where you could put a bung in and fill with water. After one weekend playing on the boat their grand kids told their friends at Primary school "we spent the weekend in the swimming pool on Grandads yacht".

 

[Blue Seas]

I have never referred to my floaty thing as anything other than a boat, except when things go wrong, and I refer to it as a heap of shit. Many owners of relatively small boats, especially ones with big poles in the center, refer to them as yachts. I have no great issue with that, if it's what pleases them. However, some of the other pompous nonsense gets on my wick. A guy on social media this morning referring to one of the cabins on his Leopard 39PC as "the Master Stateroom" is well up there.

There is nothing pompous or otherwise about the term 'yacht' providing of course it is used in its true meaning rather than the lazy corruptions used these days.
The definition of Yacht has nothing to do with sails, motors, or masts or the size of the boat - its actual meaning is 'a vessel used primarily for pleasure purposes' nothing more. I believe that it originates from the Dutch word for ship.
Hence 'Royal Yachting Association' or (ironically) the name of the internet forum being used to post on the subject 'Yachting Monthly's Scuttlebutt'!

 

[Roberto]

Some american skippers like to refer to themselves as captain.

In a few Caribbean island anchorages there are small boats selling fruits, water etc they go from boat to boat hailing everyone "hello Captain how are you today" etc etc. I once dared say "thanks you are very kind but I am not a Captain" the reply was "ok then where is the captain ?"

 

[Bristolfashion]

For using their own language? I'd suggest the issue lies with you for not being open to other cultures. It's sad that you feel a need to attack what you don't understand.

Yep, the same correspondent recently called me pretentious for simply using, er, English words that I'd picked up here & there.

Does anyone remember the TV programme The Good Old Days? The chairman had a repeating joke of introducing every act with the most flowery range of words possible, which I thought was great fun.

Personally I tend to use,

Boat = smallish floaty thing
Ship = biggish floaty thing
Yacht = floaty thing with stick
Motor = boat without stick

I'm not a fan of "motor yacht", but, hey, who cares. I do appreciate folks that can accurately distinguish between a "phantom rigged crunge staysail bowsprit cutter with knock knees and splayed fantails" and an "empire rigged postillion sloop with canoe stern, kayak bow and flange mounted inner bowed spleens".

And, with that enigmatic exposition of erudition, I'm off!