Short answer: The common types of yachts are motor yachts, sailing yachts, explorer (expedition) yachts, sportfishing and sport yachts, trawler yachts, catamarans and other multihulls, classic yachts and support vessels. Yachts are also grouped by size, with “superyacht” usually meaning about 24 m (79 ft) and above, and by use: private yachts and charter yachts, which are let for hire. Most yachts fit more than one category, for example a motor yacht that is also a superyacht and is used for charter.
There is no single official list of yacht types. Brokers, builders and owners sort yachts in different ways, and the categories overlap. The most useful way to read them is by what drives the yacht, how its hull is shaped, what it is built to do, how big it is and how it is used.
Types of Yachts at a Glance
| Type | What defines it | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht | Powered by engines; includes flybridge, open, sport and tri-deck layouts | Coastal and offshore cruising, private use and charter |
| Sailing yacht | Powered mainly by sails, with an auxiliary engine | Cruising, ocean passages and racing |
| Explorer yacht | Built for range, endurance and self-sufficiency | Long-range and remote cruising |
| Sportfishing and sport yacht | Fast planing hull; fishing versions add a tower, outriggers and a working cockpit | Offshore fishing, fast day trips |
| Trawler yacht | Displacement or semi-displacement hull built for economy and range rather than speed | Long-distance cruising at modest speed |
| Catamaran | Two hulls; motor or sail | Stable, spacious cruising and charter |
| Classic yacht | An older yacht valued for its design and build, often restored | Private cruising, classic regattas |
| Support vessel | A shadow vessel or chase boat that carries tenders, toys and equipment for a larger yacht | Supporting the main yacht |
Motor Yachts
Motor yachts are driven by engines and are the type most people picture when they hear the word “yacht”. Their layout is the most common way to tell them apart:
- Flybridge yachts have an open upper deck with a second helm station above the main deck.
- Open, express and sport yachts keep the superstructure low and are built for speed over shorter distances.
- Tri-deck yachts typically have three principal decks above the hull, and are usually superyachts; deck and accommodation arrangements vary.
Motor yachts also differ by hull form. Planing hulls rise onto the water at speed; displacement hulls move through the water and are more economical at low speed; semi-displacement hulls sit between the two. The hull form decides much of a motor yacht’s speed, fuel use and comfort at sea.
Illustration: a flybridge motor yacht, with a second helm station on the open upper deck.
Sailing Yachts
Sailing yachts use sails as their main propulsion and carry an engine for manoeuvring and calm conditions. They are usually described by their rig: a sloop has one mast; a ketch has two, with the shorter mizzen mast forward of the rudder post; a schooner has two or more. Within sailing yachts, cruising designs favour comfort and ease of handling, and performance designs favour speed. Large sailing superyachts often use powered winches and furling systems so that a professional crew can handle very large sails safely.
Illustration: a schooner-rigged sailing yacht. Sailing yachts are usually described by their rig.
Explorer and Expedition Yachts
Explorer yachts are built to operate far from marinas and yards. They typically carry more fuel, water and stores than other yachts of the same size, have strong hulls and plenty of deck space for tenders, and some are built to ice-class or commercial-style standards. Smaller versions are often called pocket explorers. Some are conversions of commercial vessels such as supply ships or fishing vessels.
Illustration: an explorer yacht built for range and self-sufficiency in remote waters.
Sportfishing and Sport Yachts
Sportfishing yachts, or sportfishers, are motor yachts built for offshore fishing. They have a fast planing hull, a large open cockpit at the stern for working the catch, and often a tuna tower and outriggers. Sport yachts share the speed and low profile but are built for fast cruising and day trips rather than fishing.
Illustration: a sportfishing yacht with a tower, outriggers and an open working cockpit.
Trawler Yachts
Trawler yachts take their name and hull shape from working fishing trawlers. They typically use displacement or semi-displacement hulls and run at modest speeds, which gives them long range on relatively little fuel. They are popular with owners who cruise long distances with a small crew.
Catamarans and Other Multihulls
A catamaran has two hulls joined by a deck, and a trimaran has three. Multihulls heel less than monohulls and offer wide decks and living spaces for their length, which makes them popular for charter. They come in both sailing and motor versions, so a catamaran can be a sailing yacht or a motor yacht at the same time.
Classic Yachts
Classic yachts are older yachts kept in service for their design, build quality and history. Many are restored and refitted to bring their machinery, systems and safety equipment up to current standards while keeping their original lines and character. Classic sailing yachts also race in their own regattas.
The classic 36 m Heesen Opus II in the KRM Yacht travel lift ahead of an extensive refit.
Yacht Types by Size
Size labels such as yacht, superyacht and megayacht are informal; the lengths below are where regulation happens to draw lines:
- Yacht has no legal minimum length; it is a usage word for a pleasure vessel of some size. In the EU, “recreational craft” means boats of 2.5 to 24 m hull length under the Recreational Craft Directive.
- Superyacht usually means a yacht of about 24 m (79 ft) and above. 24 m is also the load line length at which the Load Line Convention (for new ships on international voyages) and the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code for commercial yachts start to apply.
- Megayacht and “gigayacht” are used for the largest superyachts, with no agreed size limits.
For where a yacht ends and a boat or a ship begins, see Yacht vs Boat vs Ship.
Private Yachts and Charter Yachts
How a yacht is used can matter more than its design. A private yacht is used by its owner and guests and is not engaged in trade. A charter yacht is let for hire and is usually certified as a commercial vessel under its flag’s rules, for example the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code for commercial yachts of 24 m and above carrying no more than 12 passengers. SOLAS defines a passenger ship as one carrying more than 12 passengers; which certification applies depends on the yacht’s operation, flag and regulatory scope. The same motor yacht can therefore be built and equipped differently depending on whether it will be chartered.
Illustration: a charter yacht at anchor. Charter yachts are let for hire and must meet flag-state requirements.
How Yacht Type Affects a Refit
Each type brings its own refit priorities. Motor yachts often focus on machinery, systems and interiors; sailing yachts add rig, sails and deck hardware; explorer yachts usually need work on range, tender handling and equipment for remote operation; classic yachts call for careful restoration of original structure and finishes. A change of use, such as moving a private yacht into charter, can add certification work to any of them. See how a superyacht refit is planned, and when a project becomes a rebuild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of yachts are there?
There is no fixed number. This guide groups yachts into eight overlapping categories: motor yachts, sailing yachts, explorer yachts, sportfishing and sport yachts, trawler yachts, catamarans and other multihulls, classic yachts and support vessels. They overlap, and many yachts belong to several types at once.
What is the most common type of yacht?
It depends on the region and the fleet being considered; there is no single global register that counts yachts by type. Motor yachts and sailing yachts are the two broad groups that most other types fall into.
What is the difference between a motor yacht and a superyacht?
“Motor yacht” describes how the yacht is powered; “superyacht” describes its size, usually about 24 m and above. A large motor yacht is usually also a superyacht, and a large sailing yacht can be a superyacht too.
What is a tri-deck yacht?
A motor yacht that typically has three principal decks above the hull, usually a superyacht. Deck and accommodation arrangements vary from yacht to yacht.
What is an explorer yacht?
A yacht built for long range and self-sufficiency in remote areas, with large fuel and stores capacity, a strong hull and room for tenders and equipment. Some are built to ice-class standards, and some are conversions of commercial vessels.
Is a catamaran a yacht?
Yes, if it is used for pleasure. “Catamaran” describes the twin-hull design; it can be a sailing yacht or a motor yacht.
What is the difference between a yacht and a boat?
“Yacht” describes a vessel used for pleasure, usually of some size; “boat” is the everyday word for small watercraft. See Yacht vs Boat vs Ship for the full comparison.
I want a yacht for long-range cruising with a small crew. Which type should I look at?
Consider trawler yachts and smaller explorer yachts, which are built for range and economy at modest speed, but assess each vessel’s range, systems and crewing requirements against the actual itinerary, cruising area and support available ashore.
Which type of yacht is best for charter?
Charter guests usually value deck space, cabins and stability at anchor, which is why motor yachts and catamarans are common charter choices. Charter operation must also meet the applicable flag-state and local requirements.
