Boat or Yacht?

 My son's neighbor lost what he called a boat in hurricane Ian.  Evidently he settled with his insurance company and has now replaced what he called a boat.  We woke the other morning with a watercraft next to his house, and my wife just called it this "huge thing."  Yes, he got his boat replaced.  But looking at it, I thought to myself that this huge thing isn't a boat.  So, I decided to Google what defines a yacht and decided his boat, as he called it isn't a boat.

That "huge thing" is a damn yacht!  But what exactly is a yacht?  A yacht is typically a cabin cruiser.  So, if he had a boat, he now has a yacht!  It seemed to be more than nine meters and he can sit people on the front deck.  My wife and I have had a discussion as to whether our neighbors watercraft is a boat.   If it isn't a yacht, it's close to being one.  

A yacht has a cabin and generally a changing room and might have a head.  This looks like it might have both, although it just barely fits into a yacht category.  But after doing my own research int the difference between a yacht and a boat, I might say this craft could be either.  If it is a yacht, it might barely fit into the realm of a yacht, but might still be considered a boat for all practical purposes.  

Yachts generally have sleeping quarters and a head.  But then a yacht generally leaves no doubt as to it's definition.  Yachts will be more like a cabin cruiser, which can go in the ocean.  Boats generally remain closer to the shore.  But then the idea is to big enough for partying and entertainment.  So, semantics aside it is whatever one wants it to be.  If one buys a craft to be a yacht, then it's a yacht.  If one just wants a boat, then it's a boat.  

Our neighbor isn't going to worry about my wife and debating what that monstrosity is, because to him, it just might be his boat.  I just think it's big enough to be called a yacht, but then in my thinking any boat coukd be a yacht.  If it has a motor it's a yacht.  If you row it, then it's a boat.  That ends the debate.  

So, there you have it.  Our neighbor settled the question yesterday.   His boat is just a boat at 27 feet.   And he calls it a boat, then it must be a boat and my wife thinks it's a boat.  At least he won't have to row it--hopefully.   I'm contemplating all this while smoking my pipe this morning.  No debate about my pipe is.  It's a pipe.  And today my pipe is my Dunhill with some London Squire.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave