Sailboat or Yacht? Whats the difference?

[kevink 6771]

Well i find i usually say 'I have a Yacht in Conwy'
they say 'OOO nice, what in the marina? it lovely there'
i then say ' well i mean a sail boat which is on the beach'
they then say ' Ah ok'

So there is defiantly a pretense, but real boaty types are still interested, and ask more questions, where as the un-informed generally change the conversation

 

[Chrusty 1]

Sailboat is fine by me and I am very English. It has sails it is a sailboat.

Always refer to mine as a sailboat, it is succinct and unpretentious. it has sails, it's a boat, (soooooory) she!

I don't refer to myself as a yachtsman either.

 

[mikeinkwazi]

Yes but!

Always refer to mine as a sailboat, it is succinct and unpretentious. it has sails, it's a boat, (soooooory) she!

I don't refer to myself as a yachtsman either.

Sailboat is fine, but don't call me a 'Boater' I'm not a hat!

 

[Chrusty 1]

Sailboat is fine, but don't call me a 'Boater' I'm not a hat!

Wouldn't dream of it dear boy! Though I believe the term "Boater" is is a word that people who like to cruise the canals call themselves, as a friendly all inclusive term.

To be honest, what does any of it really matter? I find it extremely funny when people get all hoity-toity about these things though.

 

[mcframe]

I don't refer to myself as a yachtsman either.

Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero
Soy capitan,
Soy capitan,
Soy capitan.

 

[guernseyman]

A yacht is a pleasure boat longer than 16 foot. Or so I was taught in evening classes.

 

[Chrusty 1]

A yacht is a pleasure boat longer than 16 foot. Or so I was taught in evening classes.

Who says?

 

[Chrusty 1]

Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero
Soy capitan,
Soy capitan,
Soy capitan.

Is that supposed to mean something to me?

 

[chewi]

Is that supposed to mean something to me?

Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero
Soy capitan,
Soy capitan,
Soy capitan.

I think its Santanas lyrics from La Bamba.
Still no wiser though.

 

[25931]

Is that supposed to mean something to me?

I've managed to work it out and I find it amusing in this context.

 

[Chrusty 1]

I've managed to work it out and I find it amusing in this context.

Yes and?

 

[KREW2]

I refer to mine as a boat, and elaborate if anyone asks.

Which makes me ask why are referred to as "Yachties"

 

[25931]

Yes and?

Translation ,for your benefit, means I'm not a sailor, I'm a Captain which I see as taking the piss out of the pretentious.

 

[alant]

A yacht is a pleasure boat longer than 16 foot. Or so I was taught in evening classes.

So said my insurance company in 1970!

 

[Chrusty 1]

Translation ,for your benefit, means I'm not a sailor, I'm a Captain which I see as taking the piss out of the pretentious.

Ah! I see, thank you, and yes I think it probably does I was having a bit of a muse about all this last night, and I think that pretentious people are just that, they were pretentious before they ever got a boat, so the boat is just a further extension of their pretentiousness?

I have known people with very expensive and beautiful classic sailing vessels, and they were not by any stretch of the imagination pretentious or snobby. On the other hand I have known others that had quite ordinary boats that were intolerable snobs, funny old world isn't it?

 

[mcframe]

Translation ,for your benefit, means I'm not a sailor, I'm a Captain which I see as taking the piss out of the pretentious.

Thank you - is quoting Mexican songs pretentious?† ;-)

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1508/whats-the-classic-song-la-bamba-all-about

† pretentious? moi?

 

[trapezeartist]

A yacht is a pleasure boat longer than 16 foot. Or so I was taught in evening classes.

Which makes an 18 foot skiff a yacht.

I refer to my "vessel" as both a boat and a yacht. I don't think I ever say "sailing boat", and definitely not "sailboat". I don't think I use yacht to be more pretentious, but subconsciously, who know?

I do agree that a yacht is a pleasure boat but I find in practice that the lower threshold for a motor yacht is considerably bigger than the threshold for a sailing yacht ie a 30 foot sailing boat is a yacht but a 30 foot motor boat is not.