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Mini & Small Yacht Buying Guide
What is a Mini Yacht?
A mini yacht, in general, is a vessel usually under 49 feet. The term yacht denotes that there is an expectation of some luxury, so you might find that these vessels are mini in size but mighty in concept and just a mini version of some of the larger luxury yachts, so you’re likely to see top of the line designs and furnishings. Vessels of these sizes usually mean they can be self-operated, without the need for a professional captain or crew to captain the vessel; however, you may still wish to use a crew depending on your cruising needs. Since this is size related, you might see day boats, powerboats, or performance yachts in this category as a general term denoting size can apply to numerous vessels that fall within that designation.
Mini yacht boat types can also include affordable mini family yachts, or even larger superyacht brands like Azimut that also offer mini yacht boat types.
Video Princess F65 | 65 foot Flybridge Yacht on YouTube
What is a Small Yacht?
A small yacht, also known as a pocket yacht, in general, could be taken as a vessel smaller than 79 feet or 24 meters in length. Smaller yachts or pocket yachts, depending on just how small they are exactly, might not require a captain or any crew to operate, so you might find this is the sweet spot in size if you dream of being a yacht owner/operator. If the yacht is on the larger end of the size scale, you might find a captain and crew is necessary for operations. But regardless of operations, just because the yacht is smaller does not mean the accommodations aren’t equally as superb as the larger yachts – there is a wide range of yacht builders with models under 79ft (24m) that are just as beautiful and spectacular as larger yacht models.
What is Considered a Pocket Yacht?
Pocket yachts usually refer to any vesselt 50ft and under in length. With a wide range of styles to choose from, finding the right pocket yacht for sale for you is easy with YATCO. From Cutwater Boats and Ranger Tugs, to Beneteau and Sunseeker, you’re sure to find the right style pocket yacht for sale for you.
What is the Difference Between a Pocket Yacht and a Small Yacht?
While small yachts might refer to any vessel under 79ft, pocket yachts usually cap out in size around 50ft. So, whether you’re looking at small yachts for sale, or pocket yachts for sale, you’ll find a wide range of sizes and styles to choose from.
What Are Small Yachts Made of (Construction Material/Hull Design)?
A small yacht can be built from similar materials as larger boats – like wood, steel, aluminum, and composites like fiberglass, GRP, and carbon fiber. The more general “small yacht” term does not illustrate the differences between mode of operation, so a small yacht can as easily be a motor yacht or a sailing yacht. That means that your choice of hull design could vary according to yacht type – a sailing yacht could be monohull or multi-hull in design, and a motor yacht’s hull may be a displacement, semi-displacement, or planing hull form.
What Are Mini Yachts Made of (Construction Material/Hull Design)?
A mini yacht, like most vessels, is possibly built from materials like steel, aluminum, and composites like fiberglass, GRP, and carbon fiber. It may be either motor or sail, so you’ll find the usual options – a monohull with a keel, or a multihull. If it’s a motor yacht you’re looking for, you could find yourself choosing between displacement hulls, the faster semi-displacement, and even speedier planing hulls.
Why Should You Buy a Small Yacht?
You should buy a pocket yacht if you take pleasure in being out on the water managing the yacht yourself, without the necessity of a captain or yacht crew. Or if the vessel is a larger version and requires more than you can handle alone, you could indulge in relaxing on board with a competent crew to handle all the nitty gritty onboard operations. It might be the perfect compromise in size – with all the amenities and opulence of a larger luxury yacht, but with the easy handling and sleekness of a smaller boat. While you might lack the multiple decks of a larger yacht, this smaller vessel type can still offer excellent deck space to make outdoor living comfortable and seamless as you spend time onboard traveling.
This yacht type, especially motor yachts for sale under $100K, offers access to areas larger vessels can’t reach, expanding your exploration options to off-the-beaten-path destinations.
This is why some people love the style and draft of Cutwater Boats or Ranger tugs over a much larger vessel.
Video New Launch! A New Horizon FD75 With a Unique Open Bridge on YouTube
How Much is a Small Yacht to Buy?
Since a smaller yacht can encompass yachts from 35 feet – 79 feet, there can be quite a range in the price of this yacht type.
Contributing factors to the yacht price include the:
- size of the yacht,
- how many decks the yacht has,
- how many cabins (and potentially crew) can sleep onboard,
- the builder,
- model and,
- year of the yacht,
can also affect the price of a small yacht.
Generally speaking, a mid-level 40-foot yacht will cost around $200,000 but of course this number could be smaller or larger depending on the above factors. For example, a Cutwater 32ft Command Bridge has a starting price of nearly $400,000, whereas a brand new 46ft Ranger Tug Sedan starts over $1 million. As you can see, a wide range of price tags when purchasing new, while the resale brokerage market will have plenty more options for a variety of budgets.
How Much is a Pocket Yacht?
Pocket yachts for sale will come in a wide range of prices to suit all budgets. Similar to the above, the costs will depend on a few factors. However, you can likely find older models for around $50,000 and under, while newer models will cost a few million dollars.
How Much is a Beginner Yacht?
Since a beginner yacht refers to yachts 49ft and under, your budget won’t have to stretch as much as it would if you were looking at superyachts for sale. Depending on the age and condition of the yacht, you can find a used mini yacht starting around $20,000, compared to those costing over $2 million at the higher end.
What is the Average Price of a Mini Yacht?
With such a wide range of sizes and prices to choose from, finding the average price on the mini yacht market can fluctuate. If we take the low-end price of the above of $20,000, and the high-end price of $2 million, you could be looking at an average price of around $100,000 for a mini yacht boat type price.
Why Should You Buy a Mini Yacht?
You should buy a mini yacht if you dream of traveling the world as the master of your own vessel. You can do it in style and comfort on this yacht type, which is an excellent combination of size for easy handling and luxury for maximum comfort. Versatility might be the key word – you could spend holidays and weekends on board, exploring your surroundings, or cast off from the dock on a journey to travel the world on a mini family yacht. A mini yacht may provide owners more freedom to visit those locations that don’t accommodate larger vessels, so you might find some hidden gems on your voyages. And what’s better than relaxing on your own mini yacht deck with a cocktail at sunset in an exotic location?
Best Small & Mini Yacht Brands
- Beneteau
- Gulfstar
- Jeanneau
- Absolute Yachts
- Solaris Yachts
- Monte Carlo Yachts
- Ferretti
- Prestige Yachts
- Alden Yachts
- Sunseeker
Can Mini or Small Yachts Cross the Atlantic?
Yes, mini or small yachts can cross the Atlantic if they are adequately prepared to do so. As the transatlantic journey can take anywhere from 10 days to three weeks, ideally you will take a mini yacht on the larger size of the spectrum to ensure it’s comfortable and spacious enough to spend extended time onboard. Having enough storage space for extra fuel, food and provisions will ensure you are covered should your journey be extended unexpectedly. It is advised that at least, your yacht should be 40 feet and can take on waves of up to 23 feet and strong winds of 45 knots or more. Having enough storage onboard for extra fuel and provisions will be necessary since this crossing can take anywhere from 10 days to three weeks. While a small yacht can cross the Atlantic, as you go up in size, so will the comfort during long transits. Find more information on crossing the Atlantic with your yacht here.
What is the Minimum Size Yacht for Crossing the Ocean?
While there have been reports and even world record holders who have crossed the ocean in some truly tiny vessels, experts agree that in order to cross the ocean comfortably, you should take a yacht that is a minimum of 30 feet. You’ll want to take a yacht that is of sturdy construction, with enough storage onboard for extra fuel and provisions for your journey. While a mini yacht can make the journey, the larger the yacht gets, the greater stability and smoother journey you will have.
For more information, please check out our Ocean-Going Yacht Guide.
What is the Smallest Type of Yacht?
Yachts come in all shapes and sizes, but when we speak about superyachts or mega yachts, these are usually over 79 feet in length. That would mean that a smaller yacht is one 35 – 78 feet in length. Anything below the 35-foot range would then be classified as a boat and not a yacht. So the smallest type of yacht could be a sailing yacht or motor yacht, with a mono hull or multi-hull, but based on these calculations, would be around 35 feet.
What is the Minimum Boat Size for a Yacht?
While there is no agreed upon definition of when a boat becomes a yacht, most will agree that this threshold is around 35-40 feet. Taking this into consideration, the smallest type of yacht will be around 35 feet, with enough room for people to sleep comfortably onboard and travel longer distances than boats below 35 feet.
How Many Miles Can a Small Yacht Travel?
How many miles a small yacht can travel will depend on the “range” the yacht can get. This means how far it can travel with the engine and fuel onboard. For example, a 35-foot yacht can travel around 200 miles in eight hours when it’s traveling at 25 knots. However, if you have enough space onboard to store spare fuel, you can continue for many miles before returning to shore. If you have a small sailing yacht, you’ll be able to cover even more mileage thanks to the added wind power.
Can a Small Yacht Handle Rough Seas?
Small yachts can handle rough seas if they are adequately built and prepared. Some important factors to consider include the yacht’s displacement, material durability, installing up to date navigation equipment, safety features, and the overall size of a yacht. The larger the yacht, the more comfortable the journey.
Can You Live on a Small or Mini Yacht?
Yes, you can absolutely live on a mini yacht! Most yachts above 27 feet will feature sleeping quarters, although some experts agree that in order to qualify as a “live aboard” yacht, it needs to be at least 30 feet to do so comfortably. Depending on your needs and requirements, you’ll want to be certain of a few things:
- How many people will live onboard? If you are planning to live solo onboard or with a partner, you can likely get by on a 30 – 35ft yacht and create a comfortable living space. However, a family of five will need to go up in size quite considerably to a mini family yacht, in order to ensure everyone can sleep comfortably onboard, with enough space to make corners your own and not be on top of one another.
- Where do you want to go with your mini yacht? If you want to make ocean crossings or head into uncharted waters, you’ll likely want a larger mini yacht to spend weeks at sea comfortably and safely.
- Will you have a captain or crew? This will also cause your yacht requirements to go up in size so that your crew has spacious and comfortable living quarters as well.
Can You Live on a Mini Yacht in a Marina?
To live in a marina, the discretion usually comes down to the marina itself and not the size of the vessel. Certain marinas won’t allow full-time residents since there is a heavier demand on the marina and its facilities; while others will allow you to stay on board year-round if you so choose. If you’d like to live on your mini yacht in the marina, you’ll need to be sure that the positives to living onboard outweigh the negatives. Please refer to our Liveaboard Boat Guide for more information on living on your boat or yacht full-time.
Is it Expensive to Maintain a Mini Yacht?
As with all yachts, including a mini yacht, you usually want to set aside 10-20% of the purchase price of the yacht to maintain it annually. Even though a mini yacht encompasses yachts under 49 feet, this size can still include a paid captain and crew if you so wish. Your maintenance costs can increase if you have a crew on the payroll or any refits you wish to undertake. At the very minimum, a mini yacht will cost you 10% of the price you paid to maintain the integrity of the yacht annually.
How Many Miles Can a Mini Yacht Travel?
The distance a mini yacht can travel will depend on a few things:
- the size of the yacht,
- the size of the engine,
- The amount of fuel onboard.
This all determines the range a yacht has and how far it can go before needing to refuel. For example, a 35-foot yacht can travel around 200 miles in eight hours when it’s traveling at 25 knots. However, if you have space to store extra fuel onboard, you can continue to refuel on the go and stretch that range into weeks if you so desire. A sailing yacht can provide an added boost thanks to using a mix of wind and motor power.
