Understanding Yacht Specifications

Length on a listing may be the model designation, the length overall (LOA, including fixed fittings such as pulpits and swim platforms) or the hull length. They can differ by several feet, which matters for slip fees. LWL is length at the waterline. Beam is maximum width — it drives interior volume and berth requirements. Draft is the depth below the waterline and determines where the boat can go.

Displacement is the boat’s weight; heavier boats often ride more comfortably but need more power. Hull material (fiberglass, aluminum, steel) and construction details affect maintenance and survey priorities.

Listings name the engine make, model and horsepower — check whether horsepower is per engine or combined. Engine hours indicate use but must be read alongside service records. The drive system — shafts, V-drives, pods (such as IPS), or surface drives — affects handling, efficiency and maintenance.

Fuel, fresh water and holding-tank capacities tell you how long you can stay out. Range depends on speed: fuel burn rises sharply at higher speeds, so a quoted range only means something with the speed it assumes.

Generators (and their hours), air conditioning, watermakers, inverters and battery systems determine comfort at anchor. Gyro or fin stabilizers reduce roll and are increasingly common on mid-size yachts.

“3 staterooms / 2 heads” means three sleeping cabins and two bathrooms. “Sleeps 6” may include convertible settees. Crew quarters are usually listed separately.

Specifications describe a boat’s design and equipment, not its condition. Two identical models can be very different purchases. Treat every figure as something to verify, and rely on an independent survey for condition. Where our listings omit a value, it is because the source information was missing or inconsistent.