How to find your way around the different boat categories…
There are many names, such as: Cuddy, open deck, center console, Express, Express Cruiser, Cruisers, Sport Cruiser, les Opens, Cuddy, Sedan bridge, Flybridge, Sport Bridge, Aft-Cabin, Sports Cruiser, Cockpit Motor Yacht, Motor Yacht, Pilothouse Motor Yacht, Motor Yacht, Megayacht, SuperYacht, Sport Fish, Fishing boat, Express Sport Fish, Fishing Convertible, Skylounge, trawler, Fast Trawler, House Boat
You’ll understand that it’s difficult to translate all these terms into French, but they’re still very meaningful.
To avoid any confusion, I think it’s best to keep the English terms, but with an understanding of each one. As the majority of the major websites dedicated to boat sales are mainly English-speaking, it’s easier to find your way around with the English terms.
There are no strict definitions, but rather generally accepted trends. We’ve chosen some photos to illustrate what a boat in this category looks like, but remember that there are many variations, each category encompasses a host of boats, and some boats can easily fit into more than one category.
OK, let’s get started…
The images are deliberately a little blurred so that the boat’s make cannot be identified; what’s important is the boat’s configuration only.
Cuddy Cabin: boat under 30 feet with a small cabin at the front of the boat. This small cabin is fitted out with a space and a large cushion only, and perhaps a porta-potti toilet. The whole thing is pretty rudimentary.
Open Deck: A boat less than 40 feet with the entire front part of the boat arranged for seating. We have easy access to it. Typically, there is space near the passenger side cockpit for a toilet. Everything is designed to accommodate several people for a daytime stroll only. These boats are called Day Boats.
Center-Console: boat powered by outboard motors, the whole boat is easily accessible, by which I mean it’s easy to get around, the cockpit is central, there’s often a toilet built into the cockpit and it often has a fabric or fiber roof. A boat with a high freeboard, it’s a very versatile craft, very popular in the southern United States. The Boston Whaler, Everglades and Rugulator fit the bill.
Express: A boat with inboard engine(s) and a fairly large cockpit, with a cabin providing a certain level of comfort. It generally sleeps 4-6 people, and the cabin has a toilet in a closed compartment, a kitchen with a microwave oven and sometimes a dinette. Some offer air conditioning, a hotplate, hot water and even a generator for all-day comfort. Also known as EXPRESS CRUISER, CRUISER, SPORT CRUISERS, SPORT YACHT and in Europe : OPEN and VEDETTE. The Searay Sundancer 33 or 48 fits the bill.
FLYBRIDGE: Boat which has a steering position above the interior cabin which allows an improved vision of the surroundings of the boat and above all additional space for everyone on board. Depending on the configuration of the main deck, there are several possible variations…The Azimut 53, 55, 60, 62 or Searay L510 Fly for example, correspond very well to this description.
Sedan Bridge: It is also a flybridge, access to the cockpit area is easy without the need to climb a staircase or ladder. We have access to the cabin on the same landing as the cockpit and substantially so. almost at the same level as the rear platform of the boat. The Sports Bridge also benefits from the same access from the cockpit. It is ultimately a flybridge which benefits from access from the cockpit to the same level (or almost) of the platform.
Aft-Cabin: This is also a flybridge, but as there is a bedroom at the very rear of the boat, you have to climb a small ladder to access the cockpit area. The engine is located in the center of the boat, usually below the saloon floor. A few more steps lead up to the cockpit. The Carver 456 or Meridian 408 fits this description.
Cockpit Motor Yacht: This is the same description as the Aft-cabin except that there is a space at about the same level as the aft platform to enter the boat, a bit like a sedan bridge, but you have to climb stairs or a small ladder to access the cabins and cockpit. The engine(s) are always under the saloon floor. The Meridian 459 fits this description perfectly, as does the Carver 564. Of course, these are also flybridges.
Motor Yacht : This is primarily a flybridge, but the term Motor Yacht is used when the boat begins to have a certain length. Sometimes the abbreviation M/Y is added to other descriptions, such as AFT-CABIN M/Y. In short, many manufacturers add the letters M/Y as soon as the boat has engines. Nothing is very precise with this designation, but what is certain is that it’s a boat with engines.
Pilothouse: the Carver 56 Voyager, for example, is primarily a flybridge, but with a well-appointed interior pilothouse in a section rather separate from the rest of the boat. Sometimes the term RPH, for Raise Pilot House, is used when the cockpit is completely separate from the main deck. The pilot house is not on the flybridge itself. Several European manufacturers offer this cockpit configuration, such as Ferretti and Sunseeker.
Skylounge: This is primarily a flybridge with a helm station on the upper deck, like all fly boats, except that the helm station will be completely enclosed from the outside elements, i.e. protected from the sun and/or rain. We’re talking about a fully enclosed cockpit, completely enclosed, very comfortable with A/C and seats, divan, armchairs for people accompanying the pilot. It’s really another living environment on board the yacht, usually with a full bar, TV, etc.
Yacht: We’re talking about a rather luxurious boat over 50 feet long. It’s a motor yacht at the top end of the range. Azimut, Princess, Sunseeker, Sanlorenzo, Ferretti, Riva often bear this name. Searay’s new L series also fits this description.
Megayacht: This is normally a yacht of a certain length. It is customary for it to be over 100 feet long. The rules are not very precise in this respect. Normally, it has at least 3 decks with a sundeck. That means, the lower deck for the bedrooms, the main deck for the saloon, galley, helm station or a small additional saloon, an interior RPH helm station, an upper deck with an enclosed, protected and comfortable area and a sundeck, which is another floor intended for sunbathing or sometimes there will be a SPA. I’d say from 100 to 199 feet.
Superyacht: These are made-to-order yachts, one could say rather tailor-made for a very wealthy client. The value easily exceeds 80 million USD and can reach and exceed 500 million USD. It measures at least 200 feet up to 500 feet. They often have a very large swimming pool, a helipad, several decks, 4 to 5 decks. In short, very luxurious yachts with crews of 15 to 30 people. Normally there are rooms (6) for 12 people. The crew’s quarters are not counted in the sleeping capacity.
Sport Fish: Fishing boats in this category can encompass several types of fishing boats depending on the number of feet, we can call a 20 foot boat a sport fish boat, but I would say that in general they exceed 30 feet. These are well-built, solid, robust boats given that they will face the sea sometimes in difficult conditions. They have very powerful engines. They are also called Fishing Boat. The most notable in this category are the Viking, Bertram and Hatteras brands. They still have a steering position on the upper deck for the bigger ones. They have a very distinctive appearance.
Express Sport Fish: They are like the Fishing Boat but without the helm station on the upper deck, but there may be a TUNA TOWER.
Fishing convertible: It is a Fishing Boat but I would say very luxurious, with luxurious cabins, an interior with the finish of a luxury Cruiser and sometimes even more luxurious than a Motor Yacht. Usually the Convertible will have the upper deck completely closed for even more comfort. The Cockpit on the upper deck is then merged with a lounge complete with refrigerator and of course a bar. A class A yacht.
Trawler: Boat normally designed for long periods of navigation. The engine room is particularly functional, the various systems are easy to maintain and, above all, clearly visible. There is often only one engine. The functional aspect is the manufacturer’s priority. The interior cockpit is also a highlight. Usually, it is easy to move around outside the boat (the side decks are wide). The maximum speed hardly exceeds 10 to 12 kn.
Fast Trawler: it is a Trawler but whose boat performance is superior, in fact the speed can reach and exceed 20 kn. Often, there will be twin engines.
House Boat: Boat that allows a lifestyle similar to a recreational vehicle. It is usually mounted on a structure like a pontoon with some type of dwelling on top. The entire main deck is on the same level. There may be a roof terrace. This type of boat does not move very fast, but the lifestyle inside is similar to that of a house. It looks like a small floating house. However, some houseboats can reach over 70 feet in length.
Lobster Boat: Originally, it was a fishing boat from the northeast coast of the United States with the characteristic that its freeboard could be raised at the rear of the boat to allow, for example, access to the fishing nets easily or even hauling up traps, but therefore the front of the boat was designed to face big waves. As they have a very low center of gravity, they were able to cope with difficult sea conditions. Today this type of boat still exists but in a more luxurious format. Think for example of the Hinckley.
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