pleasure yacht meaning

What is a Yacht? History, Types of Yachts, Styles, and Sizes

In this article, we explain the definition, history and origin of the word yacht, and break down some of the more common types of yachts along with various styles and sizes.

Yacht Definition & Origin

The word yacht comes from the Dutch word “jacht”, which means to hunt, and refers to the quick and lightweight sailboats the Dutch navy used to pursue pirates and other enemies in shallow waters. Today, the word takes on a very different meaning. While there is no strict definition of the word today, a yacht is generally considered as a boat used for pleasure, whether you’re cruising open waters, racing or island-hopping for the weekend. Typically, we consider a boat to be a yacht if it has an overnight cabin onboard, is more than 33 feet long, and generally looks nicer than your average vessel.

Pleasure boats have been around for hundreds of years, which is no surprise when you consider our options for transportation around that time. Without planes, cars, bikes or scooters, humans turned to the one form of transportation they knew well for pleasure – the ship.

Sailing Yacht History

Sailing yachts have been a thing since at least the beginning of the 1660s in Europe, when King James of England commissioned a sailing yacht for his son Henry, the Prince of Wales. But it was Charles II, the Kind of Scotland, who brought the term “yacht” into the mainstream after spending time exiled in the Netherlands. Once Charles got home, he began commissioning royal yachts left and right.

Steam Yacht History

Steam Yachts also have quite the history, which started as massive and luxurious sailing yachts with steam auxiliary engines. These yachts were much larger, and carried full crews complete with a cook, captain, engineer, stewards and deck hands. By the late 1700s, screw propellers were installed and the engines became far more efficient. Eventually, compound engines came about and persisted until the internal combustion took over.

Power Yacht History

Powerboats with 4-stroke gas engines were first developed by Nicolaus Otto and Gottlieb Daimler in 1876. Then in the 1900s, diesel engines became the more popular option because of their lower cost and improved reliability.

Yacht Types

Today, yachts fall into one of two general categories – sailing yachts and motor yachts.

Sailing Yachts

A sailing yacht is a leisure craft that relies on its sails for the primary method of movement, made from natural, synthetic or carbon fibers. Sailing yachts are split into two main categories: cruisers and raisers.

Cruising Yachts

A cruising yacht is designed for comfort above anything else. These yachts are ideal for overnight and lengthy journeys, typically equipped with all the comforts of home, including full kitchens (galleys), bathrooms (heads) and beds. They’re also designed to be slightly easier to maintain.

At the smaller end, we have what’s called as a “trailer sailer”. These yachts are generally shorter than 25 feet, and can be pulled by the average car. But anything shorter than 33 feet is considered a small sailing yacht. The next level is 33-45 feet, referred to as near-shore yachts. Offshore yachts are the largest category, including vessels larger than 45 feet.

Racing Yachts

A racing yacht is designed with performance top of mind, rather than comfort. World Sailing, the governing body for the sport of international sailing, recognizes 11 different classes of sailing yachts, but each share some general characteristics.

On a racing yacht, aerodynamics is prioritized. These yachts come in a variety of shapes and weights, but performance is the underlying motivation for all. Similar to aerodynamics but underwater, hydrodynamically efficient hulls allow boats to pull through the water with minimal drag or extra motion. Finally, for peak performance, these sailing yachts typically use full-battened Kevlar or carbon fiber sails.

Motor Yachts

Motor yachts come in all shapes and sizes, built with a variety of different materials. Generally speaking, they range from 30-130 feet in length, but there are superyachts out there exceeding 500 feet (that’s over 150 metres!).

The hull of a motor yachts comes in three basic styles. A yacht with a full-displacement hull moves the water up and away, creating waves. These boats have the potential to be plenty powerful, but their speed is limited. Semi-displacement hulls are slightly faster, because they’re able to partially rise above the water. Last are the yachts with a planing hull. These yachts are the fastest, because of a flat underside and enough power to lift them onto the surface of the water.

The majority of modern motor yachts have at least one diesel engine. A boat with two engines is certainly more expensive, but well worth it when you consider the reliability and increased handling/performance.

When it comes to motor yacht styles, there are many. Here’s a brief introduction to a few different motor yacht styles:

• Sport Motor Yacht : These powerful crafts are built with a semi-displacement and planing hulls, making them fast boats great for weekend adventures and short trips.
• Trawler Motor Yacht : A trawler is known for its more traditional style with a displacement hull, designed for medium distance passage-making.
• Cruising Motor Yacht : A cruising yacht is built for comfortable longer distance travel, equipped with a displacement hull.
• Expedition Yacht : Similar to a cruising motor yacht, expedition yachts are built with a displacement hull for long distances, but these crafts specialize in passage-making in remote areas.
• Mega Luxury Yachts : The mega luxury yachts is what you see and hear about on TV and in magazines. They’re hundred of feet long, designed for dozens of family and friends, and reserved for the super-rich.
• Sports Fisherman Yacht : These yachts have semi-displacement or planing hulls for quick fishing trips where you need to be able to move well. On a sports fisherman yacht, there will also be extra space for fishing gear and large fish.
• Lobster Yacht : A lobster yacht is similar to but quicker than a trawler, built with a semi-displacement or planing hull. These yachts get their name from their unique style – looking like classic Maine lobster boats.

If you’re looking for a new yacht, browse our current listings of sailing and motor yachts at Van Isle Marina. You can also visit us in Sidney at 2320 Harbour Road to see our stock in person, and our staff will be happy to help you out.

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Yacht definitions: What is a yacht? And does it need to have sails?

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By far the most common question we get asked here at Motor Boat & Yachting is ‘how can you call that a yacht if it doesn’t have sails?’ Here we explain why a boat doesn’t need sails to be called a yacht...

What’s in a name? Quite a lot if you’re a yacht! Not only are the names of yachts a source of endless amusement, but by defining your boat as a yacht in the first place, you’re setting up certain expectations.

Yacht definitions: A brief history

Whilst boating for fun dates back to Ancient Egypt and possibly even further than that, the word yacht comes from the Dutch ‘jachtschip’, which means hunting ship. Jachts were originally a class of sailboat used in the 16th century to hunt down enemies of the Dutch Republic.

However by the 19th century the term ‘yachting’ had developed to mean recreational boating in general, and with the advent of steam boats, sails were no longer the only method of propulsion available to Victorian yachtsmen.

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In the early 20th century (1904 to be precise), our humble magazine was launched under its original title The Motor Boat , but by the 1950s the ‘& Yachting’ suffix had been added to refer to the general pastime enjoyed by motorboat owners. We even reviewed the occasional motorsailer for those who liked to enjoy the benefits of both power and sail.

Today’s Motor Boat & Yachting is dedicated purely to powered leisure vessels from 25-125ft with the occasional foray above and below that when interest dictates. Current editor Hugo Andreae insists that he is ‘terminology agnostic’ saying, “I’m not bothered whether people refer to their boats as yachts, cruisers, power boats or gin palaces just so long as they enjoy using them. But for the record my 22ft Karnic is definitely a gigayacht!”

Editor Hugo’s Karnic 2250 is his family’s pride and joy, but should it be called a yacht?

What makes a yacht, a yacht?

Some would argue that a yacht has to have sails, and as we’ve seen, that was originally the case, but we here at Motor Boat & Yachting beg to differ, as its common to refer to large motorboats as motoryachts, superyachts or even megayachts without any expectation that they would have sails.

Others assert that a yacht should have to have a cabin in order for it to be fully considered a yacht, or that it has to measure at least 10m in length. If that’s the case then some longer narrowboats could be technically considered as yachts, although you’d be hard pushed to find anyone who agrees with that definition.

The final test for something to be considered a yacht is harder to pin down, but it is generally accepted that all yachts have to have a certain aesthetic or architectural appeal in order to earn this haughty moniker.

The advent of internal combustion in the 19th Century allowed motor yachts, like this fine example from Camper & Nicholsons, to be launched. Photo: Getty Images

Whether a boat is worthy of being called a yacht is clearly subjective, but there’s one thing we won’t budge over – it certainly doesn’t have to have sails!

If it’s sailing yachts specifically that you’re interested in, you won’t find many of them here, but we can heartily recommend our sister titles Yachting Monthly and Yachting World , who know much more about them than we do.

Bigger yacht definitions: Superyacht, megayacht or gigayacht?

Beyond the simple term yacht, there are a few other yacht definitions worth clarifying. The most commonly used of which is superyacht .

The debate still rages over what constitutes a superyacht. Any pleasure yacht with a load line length of 24m or more (not length overall or waterline length as is often misquoted) and a gross tonnage of 80GT is classified as a Large Yacht under MCA coding rules, causing a number of additional regulations to kick in, most crucially the requirement for the skipper to hold a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate. This is the closest thing to a technical definition of a superyacht.

At 180m Azzam is currently the largest yacht in the world, but an 183m gigayacht called REV is currently under construction in Norway. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

However, while this used to mean most leisure boats with an overall length (LOA) of 80ft or more fell into the Large Yacht category, yards have become so adept at designing bigger boats with a load line length of just under 24m that many craft with an LOA of 90ft or more still count as regular pleasure vessels.

For that reason some people prefer to use the simpler definition of a superyacht being any privately owned vessel with an LOA of 100ft or more. Even then some would argue that a true superyacht should be a custom built yacht of at least 35m or 120ft.

Such is the inflationary pressure on yacht sizes and terminology that the term superyacht itself has begun to lose currency among the yachting elite. Owners of craft over 50m now use the term megayacht to categorise their larger vessels, while the lesser-spotted gigayacht is reserved for yachts over 100m.

Fewer than 100 gigayachts have been built to date, making this the rarest of rare breeds. That said with the world’s largest yacht now measuring over 183m, it’s surely only a matter of time before the 200m mark will be broken and yet another term will be needed. Got any suggestions? Drop us an e-mail: [email protected]

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Non-Pleasure Vessel or Pleasure Craft?

From: Transport Canada

Printable resource

• Pleasure Craft Factsheet (PDF, 618 KB)

For more information, please contact:

• Your regional Marine Safety office
• Phone: 613-991-3135
• Toll Free: 1-855-859-3123

Daily Living

A vessel that is used for pleasure includes a vessel that is used as a part of your everyday life but not as part of your job/employment. “Daily living” includes:

• Travelling to and from work or school or as an essential means of transportation.
• Hunting, fishing or trapping to feed yourself or your family (subsistence hunting or fishing) or for social or ceremonial purposes.

The following examples of common situations are provided to help vessel owners and Marine Safety Inspectors consistently apply the definition of pleasure craft. The examples are not intended to cover all possible situations and should be considered as guidance and not a decision on any specific case. In all cases the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and its regulations prevail and the operator shall at all times ensure the safe operation of the vessel.

Renting and Chartering

Whether the vessel is rented, chartered or bought, it can be a pleasure craft or non-pleasure vessel depending on what it is used for. If you rent or charter a vessel and hire a captain and/or crew to operate it, the vessel is a pleasure craft only if all of the following statements are true:

• The vessel is used only for your pleasure or recreation and the pleasure or recreation of the people you invite on board (i.e. the vessel is not used for commercial purposes);
• You have the unrestricted right to hire and fire the captain and/or crew; and
• The vessel’s owner no longer has any direct control over the operation of the vessel.

If the owner or someone representing the owner of a rented or chartered vessel is on board, Marine Safety employees will assume that the owner is in operational control of the vessel and the vessel is a non-pleasure craft (specifically a passenger-carrying vessel or passenger vessel), unless the owner demonstrates otherwise.

The above examples of common situations are provided to help vessel owners and Marine Safety Inspectors consistently apply the definition of pleasure craft. The examples are not intended to cover all possible situations and should be considered as guidance and not a decision on any specific case. In all cases the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and its regulations prevail and the operator shall at all times ensure the safe operation of the vessel.

General Examples

Multiple Uses

A vessel may be used for non-pleasure purposes at one time and for pleasure at another.

When a vessel is used for both non-pleasure and pleasure purposes:

• The permanent aspects of the vessel, such as its construction and registration, must meet the requirements for a non-pleasure vessel.
• The aspects of the vessel that are not permanent, such as the safety equipment carried and the certification of the operator, may change depending on whether the vessel is being used for pleasure or non-pleasure at any given time. However, it is recommended that vessels used for both non-pleasure and pleasure purposes operate in compliance with non-pleasure vessel requirements at all times.

Change of Use

Because a vessel is defined by the way it is used, if its use changes, you need to re-assess your vessel to determine if it is a pleasure craft or non-pleasure vessel.

Guided Excursions

“Guided excursion” is defined in the Small Vessel Regulations section 300, as “a non-competitive outdoor recreational activity or excursion led by a person in charge of the activity or excursion during which the participants use a human-powered vessel”.

Vessels Operated by Non-Profit Organizations, Yacht Clubs and Camps

Non-Profit Organizations: A vessel operated by a non-profit organization may be a pleasure craft or a non-pleasure vessel depending on what it is used for. Vessels operated for the purpose of providing a service, even if the service is not for profit, are usually non-pleasure vessels.

Yacht Clubs: Vessels that are used for pleasure include vessels that are used for joint recreational activities. Joint recreational activities are activities where all the people involved are using the vessel(s) for the pleasure of the group. For yacht clubs, a joint recreational activity includes an activity that meets the following criteria:

• The vessel used is wholly owned by or on behalf of a members’ club or organization;
• The vessels are used only for the pleasure of members of that club/organization;
• Any charges levied are paid into club/organization funds and applied for the general use of the club/organization; and
• Members are co-owners of the club/organization

Camps: Vessels that are used for pleasure include vessels that are used for joint recreational activities. Joint recreational activities are activities where all the people involved are using the vessel(s) for the pleasure of the group. For camps, a joint recreational activity includes an activity that meets the following criteria:

• The vessel used is wholly owned by or on behalf of the camp;
• The vessels are used only for the pleasure of campers and are not used as a means of essential transportation of goods and/or people; and
• Any charges levied are paid as camp fees and applied for the general attendance at the camp.

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Find Your Yacht

Yacht definition.

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For yacht definition there have been expressed different views. Many continue to disagree and argue their own position on what is a yacht . Nevertheless everyone will certainly agree on one thing. In any case it concerns a “pleasure craft” or else yacht is a “recreational vessel”.

The yacht definition in a phrase is: “any watercraft which features accommodation and used solely for pleasure, be it leisure or races or even a getaway”.

Formerly the yacht definition had narrower content. Nowadays, yacht is any vessel intended for pleasure which can accommodate people. And yet the origin of the word had to do with harsh necessity rather than pleasure. But how was this change? Let’s navigate a while into history!

The term YACHT is originated from the obsolete Dutch word “jaght”, which comes from the Middle Saxon “jacht” meaning hunt or to pursue, which is also the short for jachtschip which means hunting ship / ship for chasing. “Jacht” has Proto-Germanic root just like German “Jäger” which means hunter.

The arrival of King Charles II of England in Rotterdam, May 24 1660

She was a swift lightweight chasing vessel which was used by authorities in the coastal parts of the Low Countries by the Sea to pursue outlaws (1) . During the 17th century has been used by the Dutch as a recreational vessel (2) as well as in informal improvised races both in the Netherlands and in their establishment in North America, which later renamed New York. Such a vessel was used in 1660 for the transfer of the Merry Monarch (Charles II) from Scheveningen of The Hague, United Netherlands in Dover, England following the resolution of the English Parliament to proclaim him king and invite him to return.

Until fairly recently yachts were considered as large and luxurious vessels for the personal use and entertainment of important and wealthy persons. The starting point of this perception is claimed to be that by selecting an important person as Charles II the particular vessel for the carriage of, in connection with such an important purpose as the resumption of his crown, remained in the English perception of that era and therefore into the language, that this foreign watercraft is a vessel for important people. In a public speech, Charles praised the “jaght” which was given to him as a gift at Breda during his exile (3) . Charles and his brother the Duke of York James II, built similar vessels. Particularly two of them competed for prize at the Thames. In deed it was from this royal family that sailing for pleasure was spread between the nobility and the wealthy in England.

Cleopatra’s Barge

Dutch and English carried on this luxurious pleasure to America. There in Massachusetts, later on in 1816 the recreational vessel Cleopatra’s Barge was built. With this yacht the matter of opulence and luxury ascended to another level. Out of this level the standards for construction of yachts in the coming years were set.

As regards to the shipbuilding type, pleasure vessels did not remain on the lines of the Dutch craft. As early as the starting point of the new lifestyle they followed other known lines of the era as well such as schooners, brigantines and cutters.

From the mid-19th century onwards, transition happens from sail-powered to steam-powered vessels and from the use of wood to the use metal in the construction. Steam engines emerge and afterwards internal combustion engines. The machines start to be used also in the yachts as were in the naval and the merchant ships. At the beginning machines are installed along with sails that remain for a few years as a backup means of propulsion. The new means of propulsion require storage for fuel and reinforced structure. Consequently pleasure vessels are built large to very large and very luxurious also. Therefore these yachts belonged to the private property of very rich people.

Steam Yacht

In the same period, i.e. from mid-19th century and then, begin to appear in publicity feats with particularly small watercrafts. Their skipper alone and unaided (single handed) sails long distances at the high seas, like the Channel crossing, the Atlantic crossing or even circumnavigating the world. Alongside, books are issued with regards to this kind of adventures at sea. This way it is propagated that small vessels are seaworthy. Small yachts win popularity while many are getting inspired to try yachting. From the time of the Great Depression and after, there has been a reduction in the construction of large and expensive yachts. The trend henceforth is toward the smaller yachts. From there and beyond and in particular from the mid-20th century onwards more and more small size yachts appear. The reason is that as the yacht’s size decreases, the construction cost is reduced at a faster rate than the rate at which the size decreases. Further to this, from the 80s and after they were developed construction methods under which the cost per unit of production was increasingly reduced. The new construction methods use new materials such as fiberglass, and deploy mass production processes based on standard designs. On the other hand there has been a substantial rise in the standards of living, mainly in Western Europe and North America. As a result, there has been more available income for allocation to more affordable in terms of construction cost yachts, either in the form of acquisition or in the form of rental. In this way we saw the considerable flourishing of a new form of holidays and tourism with chartered yachts.

Yachting today is affordable for everyone, especially aboard a yacht rental.

Consequently yacht definition widened from the narrow confines of the large and luxurious pleasure vessel. Now it includes any vessel meant for pleasure which features accommodation. And this is regardless of the primary means of propulsion that can be the sails or the engine of.

So let’s stake out yacht definition: The word emanated from a relatively small and manoeuvrable type of vessel. That vessel was above all very fast because her purpose was to chase other vessels. In the 17th century she was used in competitions where the objective was the speed and the story was the persecution. This and other types were used by important and wealthy persons for pleasure in general. They were built in larger sizes and with great luxury because cost was not an issue for their owners. The more the luxury and the comfort the yachts had the more they were losing their racing character. From the mid-19th century and then small yachts start to appear. These yachts combine the racing character with the recreation prospect providing at least comfortable accommodation if not luxury. By the second half of the 20th century and after the small vessels offering cruising speed and comfort are greatly increased. Nowadays they predominate numerically over the very large and luxurious ones due to the greater acquisition possibilities of by many more people. Well, all these are yachts!

The prevalent element in yacht definition which differentiates her from other vessels, perhaps the unique one, is the kind of use. That is to say, whether used for personal pleasure, something which includes accommodation and at least basic amenities and thence and beyond merely recreational cruise or race. Flagrant example is that following the termination of second World War many individuals bought small warships and turned them into yachts. Therefore a vessel is defined as yacht not just by the design of, but mainly by the way it is used.

Today you don’t need to have high incomes so to enjoy aboard a yacht. No need to buy because you can rent a yacht for a few days and be entertained in any sea of the planet you want. Yachts built for offshore sailing are safe in all sizes. Moreover they provide a wealth of amenities that previously would have been considered a great luxury.

Let’s contemplate that in 1492 Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas onto his flagship that was just 58 feet or 17.7 meters. We easily realize that the board size that once served the necessities of trade, war, and expansion of hinterland through discoveries, today is a common size for navigable pleasure. Today, we can easily enjoy sailing holidays and we can live regally in the terms of once upon, even for a few days.

So we managed to fit all pleasure crafts (or almost all) within yacht definition. If someone wants to know more about what exactly is included today in yacht definition should look for the types of sailing yachts of catamaran yachts and of motor yachts.

—————————

Yacht definition notes:

• Under the name “jaght” there were also other types of Dutch crafts. One example is the armed three-masted merchant vessel that was used in the 17th century on routes to and from the East Indies. Another example is the “d’Halve Maen” with which Henry Hudson explored in 1609 for the northwest passage of America.
• Pleasure crafts have existed among all seafarer nations from the depths of history. Yet here we look at the origin of the word yacht and what is included into yacht definition.
• The jaght was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company. Charles II named her “Mary” in the honor of his sister.

Further reading:

What is a yacht and what isn’t included in this term: What vessels today meet the conditions to be classified as yachts.

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pleasure craft

Definition of pleasure craft

Examples of pleasure craft in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pleasure craft.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Pleasure craft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pleasure%20craft. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.

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Definition of 'pleasure boat'

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Pleasure Yachts and Recreational Boats

18 April 2016

Pleasure yachts and recreational boats are pleasure vessels used for personal, family, and sometimes sportsmanlike recreation. Such watercraft are divided into two main categories: motorboats (or motor yachts) and sailboats . They are used for holidays, for example at sea in an archipelago or coastal area, on a river, lake, canal or waterway. Pleasure craft are normally kept at a marina or a dry-dock facility. They may include accommodation for use while at anchor or moored to the port. Pleasure yachts are also commonly called “Private Yachts” .

Pleasure yachts and recreational boats comprise motorboats, sailboats, luxury yachts, superyachts and mega-yachts. They are solely designed for sport or leisure purposes and carry not more than 12 persons. Other smaller pleasure craft will also be briefly described at the end of this article.

Luxury yachts (over 24 metres), superyachts (over 30 metres) and mega-yachts (over 50 metres), are very expensive large yachts, privately owned, professionally crewed sailing or motor yachts.

Opposed to Commercial Vessels (also called Coded Vessels), pleasure yachts and recreational boats in Europe, are vessels used for sport or recreational purposes and do not operate for financial gain. These Private Boats and Yachts in Europe cannot be used for charter unless they comply with all of the following (some restrictions may apply):

• They are VAT paid (tax paid) and sailing under a recognized European Flag*,
• They are classified as CE Compliant,
• They benefit from an insurance policy covering charter guests,
• Their Owners declare all charter revenue,
• Their Owners remit VAT (pay taxes), on every charter they carry-out, through a registered and valid intracomunitary VAT number,
• The cumulative charter period is limited to 3 months per year and alternating with private use of the boat,
• Their safety and security equipment is compliant and they can attest of a valid revision,
• All charters on the boat carry a valid Charter Agreement, and proof of payment, inclusive of VAT applicable in the country of embarkation, which they can show to European Customs or any other Maritime Authority in case of control,
• They never carry more passengers on-board than the maximum indicated in the Builder’s Certificate,
• If they are crewed, all crew members must be under a valid labour contract, insured and their professional qualifications must by compliant to the type of vessel and flagstate, including updated diplomas to provide emergency and medical care to save life on ships at sea,
• If they are used as bareboat rentals, then the driver piloting the boat must also carry the appropriate diplomas and insurance.

*Through Allied Yachting Management program, Temporary Admission for Charter purposes can be arranged in France for pleasure yachts and recreational boats carrying a non-European Flag and not VAT paid.

Note: Pleasure yachts and recreational boats generally do not qualify for tax-free or tax-reduction on fuel, bunkering or consumables.

In the category of motorboats, pleasure yachts and recreational boats are typically 40 feet (12 metres) or longer with combustion single or twin engines, motor yachts are ideal for sea cruising or navigating along the Mediterranean coastline. Equipped with sleeping berths, a galley, electrical generator, air conditioning and plumbing, they have the capacity to stay on the water for days. Motor yachts are ideal for entertaining yachting enthusiasts in Europe. Some larger luxury yachts, superyachts and mega-yachts also have sufficient range and capabilities to sail from continent to continent. We invite you to read our 2 detailed articles in Allied Yachting FAQ section on Types of Motor Yachts by Size , Types of Motor Yachts by Shape or Deck Configuration and Motor Yachts by Type of Hull or Displacement .

While motorboats feature ample deck space and swim platforms, with a helm in the cabin and on the fly bridge offering piloting options for sunny and rainy days, motor yachts tend to lean toward more comfort with large indoor salons, sleeping berths and other amenities to enhance your enjoyment on a long cruise.

Some categories of motorboats are:

• Day cruiser or day-boat (no cabin, sparse amenities)
• Weekender boat (one or two basic cabins, basic galley appliances and plumbing)
• Cruising yacht (sufficient amenities to allow for living aboard for extended periods)
• Sport fishing yacht (yacht with living amenities and sporting fishing equipment)
• Luxury yacht (larger yachts, with more luxurious finishings/amenities)

Other types of motorboats are: Fishing boats, bay or flat-bottom boats, bow riders, cabin cruisers, centre consoles, cuddy cabins, deck boats, high performance boats, jet boats, houseboats, inboard ski boats, trawlers, walkarounds, multi-hull powerboats and pontoon boats.

Sailboats differ from other types of boats in that they are propelled partly or entirely by wind; they use sails to transform the power of the wind into power that moves the boat through the water. The term sailboat covers a wide variety of sailing craft, each with its own characteristics and styles. In general, sailboats are distinguished by size, hull configuration, keel type, number of sails, use and purpose. Please refer to the articles on our FAQ section for more details on Types of Sailing Yachts by Age and Types of Sailboats by Type of Rig .

OTHER RECREATIONAL WATERCRAFT

Most pleasure yachts and recreational boats are equipped with other recreational watercraft commonly called “Tenders and Toys” . You can find in this category rowboats, canoes, kayaks, surf boards, wind-surfs, kite-surfs, paddle-boards, water bikes (or water scooters) like Jet-skis or wave-runners, chase-boats, dinghies, tenders (inflatable, rigid and semi-rigid), seabobs etc…

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pleasure boat

• 1.1.1 Synonyms
• 1.1.2 Translations

pleasure boat ( plural pleasure boats )

• 1958 July 14, “ When Soldiers Meet ”, in Time : Steaming up the Adriatic aboard ex-King Farouk's former pleasure boat (now renamed Freedom), Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser arrived last week at the beautiful Yugoslav seaport of Dubrovnik.
• pleasure craft

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Definition of pleasure boat noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

pleasure boat

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The MCA has provided guidance on COLREG in Chapter 8 of MGN 599.

There were many issues contributing to the significant loss of life that occurred when the Titanic sank. These were addressed by the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) which is intended to preserve life onboard any ship or craft at sea.

Originally the SOLAS Convention did not apply to vessels of less than 150GT. Such conventions are however periodically reviewed. Since 1 July 2002. SOLAS Chapter V, has applied to “all ships on all voyages” except warships, other government owned or contracted ships and ships navigating solely on the Great Lakes of North America. SOLAS V therefore applies to UK pleasure vessels, although there are many exemptions leaving the following applicable regulations:

• Regulation 19 - RADAR REFLECTORS
• Regulation 29 - LIFESAVING SIGNALS
• Regulation 31 & 32 - DANGER MESSAGES
• Regulation 33 - DISTRESS MESSAGES  - Distress Situations: Obligations and procedures
• Regulation 34 - VOYAGE / PASSAGE PLANNING - Safe navigation and avoidance of dangerous situations
• Regulation 35 - MISUSE OF DISTRESS SIGNALS

Find out more about SOLAS V Regulations .

Along with COLREGs and SOLAS, MARPOL the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, stems from the United Nations (UN). Specifically for marine matters the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN agency which looks after maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. A pleasure craft’s obligations under MARPOL are detailed in the Environment area  and holding tanks are discussed within Boating Abroad . The MCA has also provided advice in Chapter 10 of MGN 599 . 

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a framework for the use of the oceans. It is this convention that defines the territorial waters of a country and whether a vessel is under flag state, coastal state, or port state law. For more information see the law of the sea and the coastal state .

The legislation governing the evidence of competence required for the operation of a pleasure vessel is the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2015. The 2015 regulations do not apply to a pleasure vessel which is less than 80 GT or under 24 metres in load line length.

Therefore if your vessel is used within the legal definition of a pleasure vessel and is either less than 24m in load line length or less than 80GT, there is no requirement for you to have a certificate of competence to skipper the vessel in UK territorial waters or on the high seas.

For vessels of  or exceeding 24m in load line length and 80GT or more, MSN 1858 details the manning requirements for deck officers and MSN 1859 details the manning requirements for engineering officers.

If the use of the vessel is not within the scope of the definition of a pleasure vessel manning should be in accordance with the applicable regulations or code of practice.

The MCA provides guidance on additional legislation, which applies where crew are employed or engaged, in MGN 599 .

Class XII vessels (pleasure vessels of 13.7m in length and over) are required to comply with the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Craft) Regulations 1998 and the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances For Ships Other Than Ships Of Classes III To VI(A)) Regulations 1999.

However practical problems came to light and there is a possibility of conflict with the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) which has resulted in three Exemptions to the Merchant Shipping Regulations. Owners of Class XII vessels have a choice ; if they opt to comply with one or more of these Exemptions, they do not need to comply with the underlying regulations to which they relate. The exemptions are published by the MCA in MGN 599 .

For pleasure vessels of less than 13.7 metres in length, there are no statutory requirements for safety equipment other than those required under SOLAS V. That said, although safety equipment may not be required by law, it is essential that you properly equip your boat prior to putting to sea.

If the use of the vessel is not within the scope of the definition of a pleasure vessel, the vessel should be equipped in accordance with the applicable regulations or code of practice.

Maritime Radio

The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1998 do not apply to Pleasure Vessels. It is therefore not mandatory under these regulations for a Pleasure Vessel to have a "radio installation" on board. It is however highly recommended that vessels are equipped with maritime radio equipment suitable for the area of operation.

• See Calling for help  for further guidance on equipping your boat. 
• See Mandatory equipment for Class XII Vessels  for information on other regulations which may mandate the carriage of maritime radio equipment. 

Where a VHF radio or other maritime radio equipment (such as an EPIRB, AIS, ATIS, Radar etc.) is carried, the equipment must be licensed.

A Ship Radio Licence (or Ship Portable Radio Licence) will be required for most boats together with a maritime radio operator certificate authorising the operation of maritime radio equipment if applicable. In the UK Ship Radio Licences and Ship Portable Radio Licences are issued by Ofcom .

For equipment capable of voice transmissions a maritime radio operator licence (such as the Short Range Certificate (SRC)) is usually also required for the operator. See Licensing Onboard Electronics  for further guidance.

If the use of the vessel is not within the scope of the definition of a pleasure vessel the vessel should be equipped in accordance with the applicable regulations or code of practice.

Other UK Regulations Relevant to Pleasure Vessels

MGN 599, in paragraphs 10.12 – 10.18, provides details of legislation concerning Air Pollution Prevention and Use of Antifouling Paints applicable to Pleasure Vessels.  Information regarding registration, survey and certification regulations is given in Chapter 11 of MGN 599 and Chapter 12 covers other Regulations Relevant to Pleasure Vessels. MGN 599 also includes best practice advice.

Byelaws and Local Regulations

Harbour Authorities may have local byelaws in force which apply to leisure boats such as speed limits within the harbour, restricted areas, and requirements to monitor specific VHF channels.  Establishing what these are should be part of your passage planning.

Some Harbour Authorities may have their own website and publish small boat guides e.g. the Port of London Authority website .  In addition, there are usually details of byelaws in Almanacs and pilot books and the more important rules, such as speed limits are posted up on notices within the harbour.

Local Notices to Mariners (LNTM) are often available online and many harbour authorities allow you to subscribe for email updates as and when a new notice is published. A list of sources for LNTM is published under Local Notices to Mariners .

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pleasure boat noun

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What does the noun pleasure boat mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun pleasure boat . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun pleasure boat ?

How is the noun pleasure boat pronounced?

British english, u.s. english, where does the noun pleasure boat come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun pleasure boat is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for pleasure boat is from 1654, in Mercurius Fumigosus .

pleasure boat is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: pleasure n. , boat n. 1

Nearby entries

• pleasing, adj. a1398–
• pleasingly, adv. a1398–
• pleasingness, n. a1586–
• pleasurability, n. 1793–
• pleasurable, adj. 1557–
• pleasurableness, n. 1626–
• pleasurably, adv. 1580–
• pleasurance, n. c1540–
• pleasure, n. a1393–
• pleasure, v. 1538–
• pleasure boat, n. 1654–
• pleasure brake, n. 1883–
• pleasure centre | pleasure center, n. 1877–
• pleasured, adj. 1600–
• pleasure dome, n. 1816–
• pleasuredrome, n. 1917–
• pleasure economy, n. 1896–
• pleasureful, adj. ?c1502–
• pleasure ground, n. 1755–
• pleasurehood, n. 1842–
• pleasure house, n. 1590–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for pleasure boat, n..

pleasure boat, n. was revised in June 2006.

pleasure boat, n. was last modified in July 2023.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into pleasure boat, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1907)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

• View pleasure-boat in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for pleasure boat, n., browse entry.