what is a yacht

A yacht is a watercraft used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, but the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a yacht, such a pleasure vessel is likely to be at least 33 feet (10 m) in length and may have been judged to have good aesthetic qualities. The Commercial Yacht Code classifies yachts 79 ft (24 m) and over as large. Such yachts typically require a hired crew and have higher construction standards. Racing yachts are designed to emphasize performance over comfort, while charter yachts are run as a business for profit. Yachts can further be defined as a superyacht or megayacht, depending on their size. Superyachts are typically 24 meters (78 feet) and above. There are two types of yacht, sailing yachts and motor-powered yachts. Size-wise, yachts tend to be anything from 10m long to hundreds of feet. If you own a luxury craft less than 12 meters long, it’s usually called a cabin cruiser, sometimes simply a cruiser. In summary, a yacht is a recreational watercraft that is privately owned and operated, not utilized for commerce.