If you have recently developed an interest in luxury yachts, you might be curious about the different types of yachts available. When you think of a yacht, you often think of a motor; however, there are different yacht categories.

Here, you will find some useful information about the different types of yachts available. The most prominent type of luxury yacht is often a motor yacht and if you are new to luxury yacht ownership, chances are, you just purchased a motor yacht.

Not all yachts are motor yachts so, here the different categories of yachts that exist.

What are the different categories of yachts?

A yacht is generally categorised as a sea vessel that is used for recreational purposes such as entertaining or sports. For example, if you were to purchase yacht shares, you are more than likely purchasing the vessel to use as a recreational vessel rather than for cargo or unloading and offloading merchandise. Here are the different categories:

Sailing Yacht

A sailing yacht is one that is predominantly propelled by wind and sails. You will often see these yachts used for sports and general recreation. They are more luxurious than the sailboats that are traditionally used for commercial purposes.

Motor Yacht

Motor yachts operate using one or more motors, these are the vessels that you will often see docked at luxury marinas. They are often extremely luxurious and some yacht owners purchase them through a fractional yacht ownership scheme or by purchasing boat shares. Buying a yacht through a yacht share network is a more cost-effective way of owning one.

Gulet Yacht

Gulet yachts are a cross between sailing yachts and motor yachts. They are often referred to as hybrid yachts as they are propelled with both sails and motors. You can also purchase them with a boat share syndicate where a group of people share the cost of an expensive vessel.

Cabin Cruiser or Express Cruiser

Cabin Cruisers are powered by one or two motors and they are designed to cruise long distances along coastal waters and can be used for waterway tours. They often come with accommodation within the hull or vessel. These boats can also be purchased using yacht syndication.

Sports Yacht

Sports yachts are designed for water sports, cruising and fishing. They usually come with very powerful motors for speed and durability. There are sports sailing yachts as well as sports motor yachts. If you want to buy a yacht for sports purposes you can either go for a sole ownership deal or you could split the cost with a group of boat enthusiasts who also wish to purchase a boat. You can do this as part of a fractional boat ownership plan.

Catamaran Yacht

Catamaran yachts are usually designed with two hulls and are mostly constructed using fibreglass. Catamaran yachts are suitable for low-level waters, they are built strong and are often referred to as “unsinkable.”

What is the difference between a superyacht and a yacht?

What makes a superyacht a superyacht? Typically, yachts that are at least 80 feet or 24 meters in length are referred to as superyachts. Anything below this is often referred to as just a yacht. Superyachts are more expensive and extravagant and also come with luxurious fittings and fine finishings.

Superyachts come with a very high price tag and purchasing one as a sole owner would come with a hefty cost. You could reduce the cost by investing in a yacht timeshare to drive down the cost of buying one outright.

What is the best type of yacht?

Deciding on the best type of yacht is a difficult decision to make, it really does depend on your personal preferences however, the overall quality of the boat does depend on the make, model and price tag.

Typically, motor yachts are more spacious and durable and are best for larger groups, business trips and families. It really depends on you, the size, brand and overall finish of the boat will all depend on how much you are willing to spend.

If you want to own a top-quality, high-end vessel, expect a high price tag. You can reduce this cost by opting for yacht co-ownership, this will certainly drive down the cost and provide you with more flexibility when it comes to purchasing the yacht you want.

Buying a yacht is a big decision, it does help to understand the types of yachts available to you. If you are thinking about purchasing a yacht, you are more than likely searching for a luxury motor yacht with high-end, luxury fittings. In which case, the main decision you have to make is the brand, size and model. Once you have decided on this, you can also decide whether you want to buy the boat as a sole owner or a part-owner. If you opt for part ownership this would mean that you buy a yacht as part of a yacht syndication group or shared yacht ownership plan.

Whether you opt for a superyacht, megayacht or smaller motor yacht, think carefully about the type of ownership that would be suitable for you. Sole ownership or shared ownership, buying a yacht timeshare will reduce the cost of buying a luxury yacht significantly but the make, size and model will also determine the overall price of the yacht. If you decide on yacht co-ownership, you can purchase a higher quality boat at a fraction of the cost.

Different types of Yachts Explained