Yacht vs. Boat: What's The Difference?

Published on 10/29/2018 6:39 pm

Boat, yacht, sail boat, catamaran, super yacht, ship, charter yacht, vessel - the terms may seem to be synonymous but there are important differences that help distinguish the difference between afternoon fishing trips and luxury yacht charters.

Boat, ship and vessel are broad terms that refer to any vessel or conveyance that floats on or operates on the water.

Boat – A boat is a vessel, whether used for personal or commercial purposes that is less than 197 feet in length. The majority of vessels used for pleasure can be accurately described as boats.
Ship – A ship is a personal or commercial vessel that is more than 197 feet in length. Ships are most commonly for transport and commercial purposes, however, there are ships that are for personal use.
Vessel – A vessel can be either a ship or boat – a craft used for floating on the water typically larger than an ordinary rowboat. Generally, everything floating in water can be appropriately described as a vessel.

A yacht is a type of boat (sometimes a ship) that is used for personal purposes – not commercial endeavors. Yachts are used for memorable vacations, special events and weekend get-a-ways.

Yacht – A yacht is a fairly large vessel used solely for pleasure and personal use. Although there is no official length that designates a vessel as a yacht, the industry standard is less than 100 feet in length.
Charter Yacht – A chartered yacht is a yacht that is manned by a professional crew, including but not limited to a captain, steward/stewardess, cook, maid, and deck hand. Chartered yachts are commonly referred to as luxury yacht charters, based on their size and elegance.
Super Yacht – A super yacht (also commonly called a mega yacht) is a yacht over 100 feet in length.

A type of yacht (and sometimes a type of boat) is a sailboat or catamaran.

Sailboat - A sailboat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails smaller than a sailing ship. However, a sailboat could be accurately called a yacht if it was more than 100 feet.
Catamaran - A catamaran is a multi-hulled watercraft featuring two parallel hulls of equal size.

The Bottom Line

The difference in terminology comes down to size of the vessel and the purpose of the vessel. Everything on the water can be referred to as a vessel. A vessel includes both a yacht and a boat. If the purposes of the vessel are commercial/business driven, then the proper term is boat or ship – depending on the size. If the purposes of the vessel are pleasure it can be called a boat or a yacht – depending on size.

Boat rentals are common and typically refer to rentals of boats under 100 feet in length. These boats are rented for Saturday adventures or while on vacation in a seaside town. Luxury yacht charters typically refer to vessels of larger size with a certain level of elegance and ornate style. Charters are rented for weeks or months at a time and can include itineraries from all corners of the world, including the Mediterranean, French Rivera, Australia and Caribbean.