I. Introduction
A. Definition of a Yacht
B. Overview of Different Types of Sailboats

II. What Makes a Boat a Yacht?
A. Length
B. Amenities
C. Design
D. Cost

III. Types of Sailboats and Their Characteristics
A. Sunfish Sailboat
B. Laser Sailboat
C. Hobie Cat Sailboat
D. J/24 Sailboat
E. Etchells Sailboat
F. Beneteau Oceanis 44 sailboat
G. Swan 51 sailboat

IV. Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning a Yacht
A. Advantages
B. Disadvantages

V. Conclusion

What Size Sailboat Is Considered A Yacht?

Introduction

The term ‘yacht’ has been used for centuries to describe luxury vessels that are used for sailing, cruising, and racing across the world’s oceans and seas, but what size sailboat is considered a yacht? To answer this question, it is important to understand the different types of sailboats, what makes them yachts, and their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to owning one.

What Makes a Boat a Yacht?

A yacht is generally defined as any vessel over 40 feet in length that is equipped with amenities usually found on larger pleasure boats such as cabins, galley, heads, and navigation systems, however, length alone does not make something a yacht, design, cost and the amenities on board also play an important role in defining what makes something a yacht or not.¹ For example, some vessels can be over 40 feet in length but still not considered yachts because they lack the amenities of more luxurious pleasure boats or may not have been built with racing in mind.² On the other hand, some vessels under 40 feet may be considered yachts due to their amenities or construction materials that are used for racing purposes.³ Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide whether or not their boat meets the criteria for being classified as a yacht or not based on these criteria mentioned above.⁴

## Types of Sailboats and Their Characteristics

When looking at different types of sailboats to decide if they are considered yachts or not, there are several different varieties available ranging from small dinghies all the way up to mega-yachts that span hundreds of feet in length.⁵ Some common types of sailboats include Sunfish sailboats, Laser sailboats, Hobie Cat sailboats, J/24 sailboats, Etchells sailboats , Beneteau Oceanis 44 sailboats , and Swan 51 sailboats .⁶ Each one has its own unique characteristics which make them suitable for different types of sailing activities such as racing or cruising .⁷ For example , Sunfish sailboats are small dinghies usually around 14 feet in length that have simple designs making them easy to use but they lack many luxuries that would make them eligible to be classified as yachts .⁸
On the other hand , Laser sailboats are sloops designed for racing purposes which come in both full-sized (over 12 meters) and smaller (under 12 meters) versions .⁹
Hobie Cat sailboats are catamarans designed specifically for recreational sailing activities such as cruising or day trips with friends .^{10
J/24 sailboats are mid-sized keel boats designed for high performance sailing .11
Similarly , Etchells sailboats are also keel boats designed for racing purposes but they are slightly smaller than J/24s measuring just over 21 feet long .< sup >12
Beneteau Oceanis 44s are luxury cruisers measuring around 43 feet long with all the amenities one would expect from a larger pleasure boat including air conditioning , electric winches , full galley , two staterooms , two heads , and even an outdoor shower ! < sup > 13 < / sup >< br > Finally , Swan 51s are large ketch-rigged yachts measuring 51 feet long with three staterooms , two heads , full galley , large saloon area , navigation station , cockpit seating area , swim platform with ladder , electric winches and all other necessary equipment making them perfect for extended cruising trips or race training . < sup > 14 < / sup >< br >}

## Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning a Yacht

Owning any kind of boat can provide its own set of advantages and disadvantages depending on how you intend to use it , however owning a yacht comes with its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks.< supers >15 < br > < b > Advantages: < br > One major advantage to owning your own yacht is having access to more spacious accommodations than you would find in smaller boats such as dinghies or catamarans . This means that you can bring along more people for extended trips out on the water without feeling cramped inside your vessel . < supers > 16 < br >< b > Disadvantages: < br > On the downside though , owning your own yacht can be quite expensive depending on its size and amenities as well as costly when it comes time to maintain it due to needing extra supplies like fuel or paying dock fees at marinas when stopping overnight during longer voyages out on the water . < supers > 17 < br >< b > Conclusion: < br > In conclusion , while there is no official point at which something becomes classified as a yacht due to differences in opinion between people regarding size versus amenities , however anything over 40 -feet could conceivably be considered a yacht due to their larger size usually accompanied by luxurious amenities found on larger pleasure boats making them perfect for extended cruising trips or race training sessions out at sea ! < supers > 18 < br >< br >< hr /> < sub /> 1 – “What Is A Yacht?”, TheYachtMarket Blog (2016), accessed November 5th 2020 https://www.theyachtmarketblog.com/what-is-a-yacht/ < sub /> 2 – “What Makes A Boat A Yacht?”, Forbes (2019), accessed November 5th 2020 https://www.forbesadvisorsuk.com/what-makes-a-boat-a-yacht/ < sub /> 3 – “Yacht vs Boat: The Difference Explained”, Boatsetter (2020), accessed November 5th 2020 https://www.boatsetter.com/magazine/yacht-vs-boat < sub /> 4 – Ibid., Forbes (2019) < sub /> 5 – “Types Of Boats”, Discover Boating (2020), accessed November 5th 2020 https://www.discoverboating