Motor Yacht v Sailing Yacht...Which do YOU prefer?

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If you are considering buying a superyacht, one of the first considerations should be whether you prefer a sailing yacht or a motor yacht. This vlog looks at the pros and cons of each.

[JaredRietdyk]

Just something special about seeing the sailing yachts under way.

[Ketel.Binkie]

I like both, the comfort of a motor yacht, and the sleek lines and adventure of a sailing yacht. If I'd be in the market for either of those, I would probably be in team sailing yacht.

[fishtigua]

Depends on what you want to do on the boat. In the old days you had to own a very large motoryacht if you wanted to go off to the furthest reaches of the globe, if you wanted speed, forget sailing. Through huge steps in technology where this is no longer the norm. We motored around the world in the mid-80's on a 65m, having a 10, 000 mile range. We only met 3 others doing the same, all the rest were sailboats. Look at the HUGE rise in Explorer yachts today like Nordhavn and Bering, even sub 25m.

[martinogold]

For me a sailing yacht is just so elegant and graceful, and it's much better for the environment too. 🌎 Also, there are some really interesting developments like hybrid drive that can charge the batteries whilst under sail, and DSS foils that reduce heeling like on the stunning Canova by Baltic Yachts.

[HAL_NOVEMILA]

With motor-yachts it's about the destination, with sailing-yachts it's about the journey...

[jamesgoesoff]

active sailing has an appeal. literally learning the ropes and then being able to sail from port to port through your own work. i guess a similar idea would be owning a jet and learning to be a pilot.

[justininfrance]

Very informative explanation, one that confirms my own thoughts. I'm a complete land-lubber who couldn't afford a dingy, but watching videos of beautiful motor yachts I find myself increasingly annoyed by the utmost importance paid to sunbathing. As if the super rich are happy to pay millions simply for the luxury of a floating sunbed and cocktail lounge. Or as a luxurous platform for their tenders and toys. I imagine most of them never stray very far from a marina. So, call me old fashioned, call me stupid, but I'm a sailing yacht man all the way...even though paddling in a canoe is the closest I will ever get to it.

[mikeward]

Motor Yacht, no question about it! The amount of heeling required on sailing yachts and the impact it places on passenger comfort and enjoyment, not to mention the restrictions on interior choices is not what I consider luxury!

I don’t want my Fazioli grand piano sliding around the deck every time a course change is made!

[colin.chaffers]

For me who grew up in "The Solent" pottering around in a saling dinghy, where I still can remember that feeling of freedom, but also my parents had a small dory which we blasted about in, a totally different but also a fantastic experience, so for me it's the old journey or destination conundrum. Given unlimited funds, I think a motor yatch ticks more boxes, with a yacht with a keel limits where you can go, also you have to have a larger yacht to get the same real estate and toys, but even so that feeling of sailing is difficult to ignore.

[panpiper]

I can understand the appeal of sailing and I certainly appreciate the elegance and beauty of sailing yachts, but I am squarely in the camp of motor yachts. While my dream would be to 'sail' around the world, I'd want to do it with as much stability and volume as possible, as most of the reason for the round trip would be to spend time at the many locations along the way. That said, actually 'sailing' round the world in a sailing ship would be a 'true' adventure. I think I'd skip sailing Cape Horn and the Horn of Africa though. That would be a bit too much adventure thank you.

[Funtari]

Many liveaboard sailors actually show by switching to a catamaran that is more about the time at the destination than the journey. After having chartered both motor and sailing yachts several times and as I and my family figured out to prefer to travel with calm conditions I´d choose the motor yacht. If you want to switch from the med to the caribbean you still could ship the boat for and back. No need to have a long range trawler.

[grondhero]

When I was a kid, my parents had two sailboats (Sunfish) that we would take out onto Lake Juliette in Georgia. It was enjoyable for those occasions, but now that I'm older than they were then and my life has altered, I would definitely prefer a motor yacht. I could almost live on one, although my wife just wants a cruise once a year. 🤷‍♂

[Sunny-bbkw]

I viewed this excellent video three times. If money were no question: What would you prefer for a 5-year and nearly uninterrupted circumnavigation? A motor yacht just below the 24 m threshold or a sailing yacht of ± 30 m? Side note: Noise and vibrations can be disregarded as CdM for example builds motor yachts with noise levels around ± 40 dB (A). This means you hear the engines if at all only whispering.

[markuswunsch]

Well motor yachts are about the destination and getting away from it all whereas sailing yachts are about going places in a close-knit community of likeminded people.

Let me explain this a bit more:

- Motor yacht owners might invite business partners aboard every once in a while but more often these yachts are like vacation homes to disconnect from everything whereas sailing yacht owners use their yachts a bit more to actively network, e.g. during regattas or things like the Oyster World Rally

- Sailing yacht owners tend to love discussing technical details of their yachts or journeys at length whereas the average motor yacht owner prefers to leave such things more to the crew. So chances are you will hear sailing yacht owners discussion rigging types, sail plans, sail handling, etc.
So the motor yacht owner looks to reduce stimuli (passive relaxation in splendid isolation) whereas the sailing yacht owner tries to unwind by seeking different stimuli (active relaxation). And that shared interest again makes it super easy to connect with fellow sailing yacht owners (and compete with them ;-) -> yes sailing yachts make it easier to gain a world record if you want to -> largest sloop, ketch, schooner, tallest mast, fastest around the globe…).

- Controversial Point:
Sailing yacht owners tend to be slightly more adventurous types of people (enjoying a heeled over yacht while playing with the natural forces is not for everyone) which is also reflected when looking at the industries these owners are coming from and/or the way they do business. Motor yacht owners tend to be slightly more conservative; though there are exceptions of course.
Also some sailing yacht owners sailed around places like Cape Horn (e.g. Aquijo), also known as "The Sailor's Everest", while motor yacht owners (often even those with explorer yachts) will avoid such extreme conditions.
With regards to the latter personal branding might play a role to some extent as well (Richard Branson for example never owned a motor yacht but he did own Necker Belle or Larry Ellison who owned Rising Sun but primarily uses the Americas Cup for his branding rather than his motor yacht).

[robertwallace]

Nice, informative. Something not really covered are the abundance of sailing regattas around the world like the Sydney to Hobart to name another. David I am very curious did you do a video on hull materials, wood versus metal versus composites? I haven’t seen one. Love your channel, watch it all the time.

[TimeLive.online]

I definitely would go motor yacht over a sailing yacht. After many years of living aboard a muti-ton steel hull houseboat, and witnessing firsthand the overall arrogance and the lack of knowledge of the rules of the road by many sailing vessels. That is not a group I would ever want to be associated with. True sailing vessels are more economical and better for the environment, which is precisely why when I buy my first super yacht, I will convert every bit of it that I can to solar power. Even if I can only cover the hotel load for the yacht this will be a great achievement, as I have no desire to travel the world, and it will spend most of its time on the hook.

[cbhlookout]

Great video David and thanks for your thoughts

[delcassie]

Sail for me. And on that subject, David can you please do more walkthroughs of Catamaran's. These seem to be the new preferred method of sailing around the world, with their stability and also the level of comfort and luxury you have aboard. Many of the larger cat's also having a crew, which again is an appeal to the owner who wants to take part in the sailing but also have the luxury of a crew to take over when he/she wants to just sit back and enjoy the sea.

[willemverstraete]

I have a ranch in Wyoming, would be fun to have you over! :)

[thomasw]

For me I keep going back and forth with this question. While I like the idea of a sailboat, like you every time i see one it’s always using its engines! You did say that an advantage the motor yachts had over sailing yachts was comfort and roominess. I do think that the current trend in motor yachts to explorers might be the exception of it being the destination that’s important. Your only looking at the single hulls- with the catamaran you can get both. I think this is why the popularity in catamarans is growing. After saying that I am intrigued by the latest offerings by Perini Navi.