Sailboat or Yacht? Whats the difference?

[alant]

Well I would never pretend my little 18ft boat is a "Yacht" That term conjours up an image of something much more grand.

So I refer to mine as a sailing boat. no more, no less.

I remember my first 'sailing boat' & how I thought I should insure it.

The insurance company, actually had a counter where you talked to real people then, determined that up to 16', it could be insured as a dinghy, but over that, it was a 'yacht' & premium much higher. The 'yacht' in question, was a 16' with lid/cabin(2 berth) & sailing rig (one mast). Knowing little, other than what I'd read in PB etc, when asked what sort it was, answered like a pretentious prat - "its a sloop".

Got stung for the premium.

 

[Litotes]

Just a query,But what would be the difference between a sailboat and a yacht?

A yacht is any vessel used for leisure. The term often seems to be used to denote a sailing vessel, but a motor vessel used for leisure is also a yacht.

 

[maby]

Sailboat is a nasty septicism . If I wanted to say the same thing in English I'd say "sailing boat".

"Yacht" is tricky, as one doesn't want to sound pretentious. I'd say it means a sailing boat with a cabin, unless it's mine

Pete

When you've spent a hundred grand in it, or more, you have every right to sound pretentious!

 

[Jassira]

A yacht is any vessel used for leisure. The term often seems to be used to denote a sailing vessel, but a motor vessel used for leisure is also a yacht.

Where does that put the big cruise ships, are they used for leisure or commerce ?

 

[chewi]

A yacht is any vessel used for leisure. The term often seems to be used to denote a sailing vessel, but a motor vessel used for leisure is also a yacht.

Is my inflatable a yacht then? or a canoe?

 

[Flying Penguin]

Personally, I've always used the definition that if it has dedicated provision for cooking, sleeping and s**tting it's a yacht, otherwise it's a keelboat or a dinghy...

 

[maxcampbell]

So all these people who think "yacht" posh or pretentious - if you're in a sailing boat, how do you identify yourself on VHF?

I always use "yacht", though would hesitate to do so in other circumstances.

 

[greggron]

"sailboat" is American - one of many nasty Americanisms like "gotten" that have crept into English useage. Coca colonisation.

I think "gotten" is one instance where the Americans have remained more true to the old English than we have, although we still use it in 'forgotten' and 'ill-gotten' (gains).

 

[Robin]

You need a blue ensign or even a white one to rate as a yacht, surely?

Over here when on the radio we say motor vessel and snooty raggies are known as blowboats.

 

[EugeneR]

Or a Motor Yacht, a motor yacht!

Many, many years ago, I told someone that I had what we South Africans call a "rubberduck". Not having heard about a "RIB" yet, I called it a "motor yacht" but was politely told that at 5.1m it didn't quite meet the grade for a "motor yacht"...

With that in mind, I found it surprising when the papers referred to that flybridge that crashed into a bouy a few years ago, as a "motor yacht". Surely, it was just a "motor boat"?

With that in mind, I wouldn't dare to call my 29ft-ish sports cruiser a "motor yacht" - even though it might be technically accurate and is fitted out with berths, galley and whatever.

(Maybe if it was the same sized Princess or something, it could be a "motor yacht"... definately not a Sealine *duck*...)

That said, perhaps we should realise, whatever boat we have, there may be someone who considers it a "dream yacht"...

 

[prv]

When you've spent a hundred grand in it, or more, you have every right to sound pretentious!

That could well be true, yes.

Mine's not worth anything like that, which is why "yacht" sounds a bit overblown.

I just say "boat", and if people want more detail I either say "24 foot gaff yawl" or dig out my phone and show them a picture.

Pete

 

[wotayottie]

I always call mine a sailing boat because the word "yacht" carries too many connotations in the UK. Non sailors make unwarranted assumptions both about how rich I am ( not at all) and what sort of person I am if I admit to being a yachtsman.

Same way I would never put the letters I'm entitled to after my name, or buy an expensive sports car like a Ferrari or wear a gold Rolex. In the UK its best to blend in with the mob.

 

[Terra-Loon]

"sailboat" is American - one of many nasty Americanisms like "gotten" that have crept into English useage. Coca colonisation.

"Can I get.."

 

[maxi77]

I always call mine a sailing boat because the word "yacht" carries too many connotations in the UK. Non sailors make unwarranted assumptions both about how rich I am ( not at all) and what sort of person I am if I admit to being a yachtsman.

Same way I would never put the letters I'm entitled to after my name, or buy an expensive sports car like a Ferrari or wear a gold Rolex. In the UK its best to blend in with the mob.

Which all goes to feed the ignorant. You can still buy a proper yacht fo a lot less tha most oiks pay for their cars. I lived for a few years in a sink estate and kept my boat inn the garden every winter. When people knew what I paid for it I got no hassle whatever. Just be honest and any decent person will accept you for what you are.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Are we getting snotty over differences in US vs UK English? Now how best to overcome this? Lets all have a big tea party and sort out our differences...

... oh, they already tried that one...

Lets just enjoy sailing instead

 

[wooslehunter]

Having spent a few months every year in the US I now speak moderately fluent "mercan". In fact I'm in the office in silicon valley as I type. I am of course wearing my best union flag socks.

So, over here, yachts are big horrible, generally white things with generally large smelly engines. I say generally because some don't have engines fitted since they never leave their marinas. They are generally owned by hugely rich types who have made large amounts of cash from starting companies like Google, Apple, Facebook etc - not sure if Mr FB has a yacht having said that.

Sailboats however are all boats with sails - or could have; see the point above about never leaving the marina. They may or may not have a roof & may be any size. Some are huge while some are not. Some are owned by the same rich types while some are not since they are far too small and no-where near shiney enough. However, these small not shiney boats are far more likely to leave their marinas so almost entirely will have sails. These sailboats will normally be found in small smelly marinas & are often smelly themselves. Smelly because of the large number of lazy sea-lions that loaf around in the sun, make noise & poo a lot.

The hugely rich types will never be found in such smell sea-lion infested marinas BTW.

/mercan on
Y'ave a naaaas day dood (quietly under the breath - aaassole).
/mercan off

 

[Rum_Pirate]

So all these people who think "yacht" posh or pretentious - if you're in a sailing boat, how do you identify yourself on VHF?

I always use "yacht", though would hesitate to do so in other circumstances.

Perhaps

SV 'Name'


= Sailing Vessel 'Name'.

 

[parbuckle]

I always call mine a sailing boat because the word "yacht" carries too many connotations in the UK. Non sailors make unwarranted assumptions both about how rich I am ( not at all) and what sort of person I am if I admit to being a yachtsman.

Same way I would never put the letters I'm entitled to after my name, or buy an expensive sports car like a Ferrari or wear a gold Rolex. In the UK its best to blend in with the mob.

Reminds me of a skipper I used to crew for back in the Seventies , cruising the Med in a 60 ft steel ketch , on arriving at a posh harbour like Palma Majorca most owners would dress up especially around the Club Nautico ,after customs formallities he would pull of his belt and get a length of hairy parcel twine , put a few extra knots in it and tie up his old jeans and go ashore telling me dont dare say I own the boat make out I am one of the crew ,he seemed to be embarrassed by wealth , also a very practical man who would be happy tinkering in the engine compartment.

 

[25931]

I think "gotten" is one instance where the Americans have remained more true to the old English than we have, although we still use it in 'forgotten' and 'ill-gotten' (gains).

There are many such words , for instance, Shakespeare used "fall" as well as autumn.

 

[rob2]

I find I use both terms (boat/yacht). It rather depends on my assessment of the girl I'm trying to get as crew. Well you've got to start somewhere!

Rob.