
Owning a yacht is a significant decision. Besides being a valuable investment, yachts offer different kinds of experience based on their type. Choosing the perfect yacht can be daunting, but with our helpful hints, you’ll be on your way to enjoying unforgettable voyages and pure luxury experiences.
What are the main types of yachts? How can an aspiring owner choose one, and what can owners expect after purchasing their preferred yacht?
Let’s go through these questions to help you make up your mind and get the most out of your fast-approaching superyacht investment.
What defines a superyacht?
A superyacht is a large and luxurious vessel of more than 24 meters. They currently reach up to 180 meters in length and can comfortably accommodate more than 8 guests depending on their size. Superyachts are a top vacation choice for families and friends, offering a variety of activities to do onboard or at sea. Superyachts are also a great revenue opportunity for yacht owners when used as charter yachts.

Types of Yachts
Sailing Yachts
Seeking the thrill of being close to Mother Nature? If you’re drawn by totally authentic and fulfilling experiences, a sailing yacht is just what you need. The many different types of sailing yachts available, suit any sailing skill level. For an absolutely peaceful and leisurely cruising experience, nothing can be compared to a sailing trip. Being out on the open water allows you to feel as close as possible to complete peace of mind, while the sun sets over the calm sea.

The iconic Black Pearl
The second largest sailing yacht in the world, Black Pearl, is a true gem. Multiple designers contributed their expertise to the project including Dykstra Naval Architects, Ken Freivokh, Nuvolari Lenard and Gerard P Villate. After being developed for five years in the Dutch yard Oceanco, she catches every eye when getting the wind into her outstanding black sails.
Image source: Source BOAT pro
Without a doubt, sailing yachts are the crème de la crème of boats. Many come with interesting tales to tell, from past cup winners to circumnavigators. So, if it’s high-performance and racing you want, there are plenty of sailing yachts out there, bringing some past racing romance along.
If you’re looking for the best of both worlds – adventure and luxury – then look no further than a luxury sailing yacht. These yachts offer all the room and convenience you would expect from a large motor yacht, but with the benefits of traditional sailing.
Features:
- Sailing and motor options
- Comfort living onboard
- Can reach an exhilarating speed
- Splendid design both in classic and modern options
Ideal for: Racing sailors, sailing enthusiasts, timeless design devotees, those with an urge to have hands-on experience on sailing.
Classic Yachts
Classic yachts are vintage vessels, built in the early 20th century or even earlier. Those feeling a little nostalgic, can acquire their own piece of naval history and experience the glory of the old days!

Christina O classic yacht
Onassis had realized the potential of yachts as a business tool. He created a pleasure palace to enhance his status and wealth, and elevate his stature in the international world. He named his transformed anti-submarine frigate Christina O, after his daughter. The 99.13-meter Christina O has hosted stars and politicians like Churchill, JF Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and more influential figures of that time.
Image source edition.cnn.com
From the outside, a classic yacht might resemble some sort of a time capsule. But looks can be deceiving. Some of these boats have been retrofitted to meet all the luxury standards of modern-day sailing requirements.
By owning a refitted classic yacht, you’ll have the chance to enjoy your timeless masterpiece without missing out on modern convenience. Imagine yourself in the yacht’s outdoor lounge areas, enjoying alfresco dining and living the dream in a vintage-inspired atmosphere. But once inside, you would find all of the modern comforts for a relaxing sailing getaway.
Features:
- Vintage aesthetic
- Old-school romance
- Possibly refitted interior
- Classic lines and iconic styling
Ideal for: Naval history lovers, timeless beauty admirers, laid-back vacation fanciers.
Motor Yachts
Motor yachts are the most popular style of luxury yachts and for a good reason. Not only do they offer more space, but motor yachts can host more amenities, too. These yachts combine high speed with excellent performance. They come with plenty of onboard storage, so you’ll always have a place for your water toys and equipment.

Nord superyacht cruising
Superyacht Nord is the 12th-largest yacht in the world and has been built by Lürssen. It was delivered in 2021 and has a beam of 21m, a draft of 5.15m and a volume of 10,154 GT. She was built with a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure and she’s powered by 4 MTU engines! She can accommodate up to 36 guests onboard.
Image source: Source BOAT pro
Motor yachts are a great choice if you’re looking for an exciting way to spend your time on the water with friends or family. Motor yachts are more popular now than ever, which means there’s a wide range of types available. For example, explorer yachts will take you pretty much anywhere you want, while performance yachts will quickly transport you to your destination.
Features:
- High performance and speed
- Waterparks – water toys
- Relaxation areas & wellness corners onboard
- Open-air cinema
Ideal for: Luxury vacation enthusiasts, large groups and families, water lovers, owners planning to charter their yacht.
Hybrid Yachts
Hybrid yachts offer reduced carbon emissions without sacrificing speed or performance. Imagine cutting through the waves at top speed with minimal impact on the environment. Now you can take your superyacht ownership experience to the next level with amazing hybrid systems that cut down on fuel consumption.
Hybrid yachts are modern powerboats with a clear and quiet hybrid performance, without holding back on luxury. Their hull is steady, plus resilient. Experience one of these yachts and cruise in style with an environment-friendly attitude.

The unconventional Sailing Yacht A
One of the most distinctive hybrid yachts is Sailing Yacht A, a sail-assisted motor yacht designed by Philippe Starck with an unconventional design challenging typical aesthetics. She has unique features, such as an underwater observation pod, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and avant-garde navigation systems. Sailing Yacht A was spotted cruising in the Ionian Sea visiting Zante and Kefalonia in September 2021.
Image source: Source BOAT pro
Designed to use hybrid power, these yachts lessen the impact your cruises have on the environment by reducing the cruising carbon footprint. They are perfect for quiet nature excursions! With even less engine noise, you can enjoy your trip without the engine’s mechanical buzz ruining the peace or disturbing the wildlife around you.
Features:
- Hybrid propulsion system
- Fewer carbon emissions
- Electric battery boosting speed
- Less engine noise
- Lower fuel consumption
Ideal for: People with an environmentally conscious attitude, those trying to have minimal impact on ecosystems and nature in general, owners loving the idea of having a “green” yacht.
Expedition Yachts
Expedition yachts are built for adventure and can cruise to some of the most remote corners of our world. These vessels aren’t for everyone, but they are perfect for those who want to see the world from a different perspective.
As an explorer, you can head to any destination, no matter how harsh the conditions may be. Expedition yachts are built with durable hulls and specially designed rooms to accommodate expert crews accompanying you on your journey. With lots of space for specialized equipment and luxury amenities galore, it’s easy to see why expedition yachts are known for their high performance.
Expedition yachts are built to endure every weather and temperature condition while providing great stability, high performance, luxury styling and comfort. With an expedition yacht, you can have the opportunity to watch whales breach in Antarctica, view beautiful Arctic sceneries, or even do an underwater seabed exploration like never before.
Features:
- Vessel durability in any conditions
- High stability and performance
- Built for extended itineraries
- Plenty of room to store equipment and voyage supplies
- Plenty of personal spaces for guest privacy
Ideal for: Adventure seekers, explorers at heart, those dreaming of a long voyage around the world, owners who want to contribute to the scientific community with discovery expeditions.
Tips for selecting the right yacht based on your needs

Experience different types of yachts with chartering
An excellent idea to gain some hands-on experience with varying types of yachts is to start chartering. This way you can assess which type of yachts better addresses your needs and which one suits your lifestyle and vacation goals. After that, you can easily decide which yacht is the best for you to purchase.
Explore your needs and know your purpose
As already mentioned, your new yacht investment should fulfill your needs. But needs might change over time. So, dive deeper into what your life will be like in two or three years. For example, if you plan to have a family, it would be wiser to invest in a family-friendly vessel rather than a yacht made purely for adventures.
Choose between pre-owned or new-built yachts
Another call you’ll have to make is whether you want a yacht specially crafted for you, or you’d prefer a pre-owned vessel. Even with a new-built, you can select a semi or fully custom design which usually takes longer – sometimes more than three years – until it is are ready to cruise. Purchasing a pre-owned yacht on the other hand only requires negotiation and the necessary paperwork for the ownership transfer.
Find the right deal
As soon as you have decided which yacht type you want, finding the right deals comes next. Although there are plenty of yachts for sale, finding an offer suitable for you may prove to be harder than you think. Negotiating with a seller is a challenging process. One tiny obstacle could become a real deal-breaker. That’s why you need a broker to join your efforts and help you acquire the yacht you want at a fair price.
Your broker should ensure you choose the right boat for your needs. Their knowledge and direction can be invaluable when planning your new investment, and they can show you all of the available options worthy of your attention.
Consider yacht management options
Your last step before actually owning any type of yacht is to consider all expenses from berthing, maintenance and crew wages to system checks and yacht insurance. Managing a yacht and budgeting annual costs can become frustrating. Having experts do it for you can reassure you that the yacht you plan to purchase will be a sustainable investment.
OCEDA is a highly experienced yacht broker in Greece that can help you deal with the budgeting and purchase process in a transparent and efficient way. Our innovative solutions and ownership advice can help owners, family offices and management advisors streamline challenging matters around the yachting market.
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