What Makes a Boat a Yacht?

If you’re thinking of purchasing a yacht or are wondering if your current boat qualifies as a yacht, we’re here to help. Below, we’ll define this type of vessel so you can better understand what makes a boat a yacht.

If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!

Defining a Yacht

Size is the primary factor in determining if a boat can be considered a yacht. While there is no official point at which a boat becomes a yacht, anything over 40-feet in overall length could conceivably be considered a yacht. In addition, as you move bigger in size, you will probably get into “mega-yacht” or “superyacht” territory. Basically, if you have an extremely large boat, you can call it a yacht and no one will argue.

While it’s easy to identify a large boat as a yacht, the bottom end of the yacht-size spectrum can be more difficult to determine. For instance, some may not agree that a 40-foot boat is a yacht. Others might say that 35-feet is the bare minimum, while others might say it must be 50-feet or more.

Length alone is not a reliable way to determine whether a boat is a yacht. That said, another defining feature to consider is luxury. A boat is much more likely to be a yacht if it is large in size and has many luxury amenities and entertainment features. In fact, the term “yacht” comes from the Dutch word “jaght,” which was used to designate boats that were used for pleasure by royalty.

Yacht Features Found on Scout Boats

If you browse our inventory of boats, you’ll find plenty of crafts that could reasonably be considered yachts. At the very least, they have yacht-like characteristics and luxury features. The 530 LXF, for example, has an absolutely gorgeous interior cabin that is loaded with luxury features such as a private master stateroom, hanging closet, and hidden storage.

The 420 LXF has a hydraulic beach platform on the port side and a Seakeeper Gyro stabilizing system, which enhances the comfort and enjoyment of the ride. The 380 LXF—another boat that has enough size to be considered a yacht—has a convertible hideaway entertainment system that can be used for prepping bait, grilling, accessing tackle, and more. All of these features place each craft into the category of yachts.

Purchase a World-Class Vessel from Scout

We hope you better understand what makes a boat a yacht. If you want to own one of the most luxurious boats on the water—yacht or not—you should consider a Scout. Our vessels have refinement and performance, creating an outstanding boating experience! Plus, you can add your favorite luxury features to the craft of your choice using our Build Your Scout tool. Get started today!

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530 LXF Scout Line Drawing

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