Looking for a unique adventure at the sea? Rent a sailboat and have an unforgettable vacation! We’ll help you on how to choose between types of boats and how you should prepare for your sea adventure. Nowadays sea voyages are inevitable summer programs for more and more families. No wonder why so many people decide to rent a boat. By renting a boat, you can make your vacation even more memorable and adventurous. For driving most boats, a license is necessary, but don’t be troubled, if you don’t have one. In many cases, a trained crew and captain accompany sea explorers. Thus, you can enjoy a carefree summer aboard. For a perfect trip, you must be careful about where, how, and for how much you rent a boat or sailboat. In this article, we’re giving you some practical advice on that, and present different types of sailboats.

Types of sailboatsThis article gives you an overview of the following topics:

  • Why is sailing good?
  • What do you need to know about sailboats?
  • Types of sailboats
  • How to choose a sailboat?
  • Before you begin…
  • The types of gulet boats
  • How to book?
  • Safety comes first!

Why is sailing good?

Sailing is a perfect activity for adventure-seekers. Today, sailing has more meaning, it’s a way of relaxation and a lifestyle as well. Nowadays a great number of boats are found in the boat rental market. Sailboats are driven by the wind; thus, they are cheaper than engine-powered yachts since they have a lower fuel cost. At the same time, they call for more experience and skill. Sailboats take you to places, only accessible from the sea, so you can discover the wonders of untouched nature. The freedom of sailing is a wonderful feeling, that may forever captivate those who experience it. Thanks to the technical equipment of modern sailboats, you can gain luxurious experience. Cabins are comfortable, and in many cases, a kitchen and bathroom are also available.

What do you need to know about sailboats?

The sailboat or sailing boat is a kind of boat that’s partly or fully driven with mast using the power of wind, so it has no engine or electric drive. Types and kinds of sailing boats may be different in every region and sea culture. If you’re not an expert of boats, you can recognize a sailboat by a pile standing on its deck, the mast. It’s also important, how many masts you see. This makes it easy to identify the five main types of sailboats called: sloops, cutters, ketches, yawls, and schooners.

Types of sailboats

Types of sailboatsThough sailing terminology was diverse throughout history, many terms have special meaning in the context of modern sailing. You can distinguish types of sailboats by their size, body, type or function of the keel, or the number of the mast. Usually, we group sailboats in two big categories: small sized boats without a keel and keel-boats. The size of small sailboats is 2 to 6 m. They can carry a maximum of a few people.

Cut

The catboat (cut, cat) sailboat has only one sail on one mast, therefore they also call it a one-masted sailing boat. It has no headsail. The most modern designs only have one sail, the mainsail.

Sloop

The most common modern sailboat is the sloop, which has one mast and two sails. This simple configuration is very effective for sailing into the wind. The sloop sail can also be called Bermuda sail. . The sail on the mast unit is attached at a point below the top of the mast. This enables the improvement of performance by stretching the upper part of the pole.

Cutter

The so-called Cutter sailboat has two or three sails and one mast. Nowadays, cruise yachts are diverse and resistant. Thus, this type of boat is massive in stronger wind.

Ketches

Ketch sailboats are like a sloop, but with the second, shorter mast in front of the rudder post. The second mast is the mizzen mast, the sail is called mizzen sail.

Yawl

The yawl sailboat is similar to the ketch with a shorter mizzen mast and a more balanced rudder. The origin of these sailboats goes back to the sailed fishing boats of old times, which had similar short mizzen sails. This kept the boat stable, while fishers lifted the fishnet out of the water.
Types of sailboats

How to choose a sailboat?

Don’t let the price be the only parameter when choosing a sailboat. You should consider several criteria. The year of the building suggests the level of safety and luxury equipment. The younger the boat is, the more reliable it gets. In the case of older sailboats, you should find out about their past renewals. Size matters if you’d like to rent a boat for a longer time. In this case, the bigger the better. Naturally, your expectations and preferences also matter. You can rent a sailboat with cabins, one that has a toilet, kitchen or even cabins for the crew. You can decide the colour and pattern of the mast as well.

Before you begin…

Choose a sailing route! Be familiar with your destination before leaving the port. Read the road-books, search online, or ask the charter agency. Agencies suggest sailing routes in graphic form. You don’t have to stick to these routes, as weather can modify them, as well as your personal preferences. Shape the trip to your liking. Consult with the captain or the staff at the charter base. When choosing the route mind, the length of rental time and organize your program accordingly. Sailing for three to six hours a day is recommended. You should, however, consider fuel consumption which depends on weather and the type and size of the boat. A sailboat uses 5 to 12 litres of fuel per hour on average.

How to book?

Booking a sailboat is not as difficult as it seems. Especially if you have a good booking agent. At all times, there are basic questions that arise at the beginning of the booking procedure. With the help of the provider, we can outline our concept of a boat adventure. We collected all of this, so the booking can be as easy as sailing in the light wind.

  1. First, you should decide what type of boat you’d like to rent. Sailing is truly suitable for the Read more whole family. It could be a real adventure for children and a great example of an active pastime.
  2. You should take the number of passengers into account, as well as the expectations of convenience, onboard services, and if there’s a need for a crew.
  3. Make sure, you’ve understood all conditions and received necessary information including the length, type, and price of the rent.
  4. Watch out for the weather! Naturally, it’s best if you rent a sailboat in a season when winds are stable and constant. You should avoid cold, rainy seasons, strong, cold winds, and the open sea.

Safety comes first!

For most people sailboat rental means relaxation, sun, and sea. However, mind the safety of the crew, your family, friends, and the boat. Sailboats have numerous security equipment. You have to check the necessary equipment before every departure. First, you have t understand the rules of the route to avoid collision with other boats. These are the ROW (Right-Of-Way) rules that include instructions on distance and regulations of evasion. Wearing a lifejacket is obligatory for kids on board.
HELP ME TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT BOAT

4.9/5 - (106 votes)
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If that's okay with you, just keep browsing.

Not to be missed!

Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know about discounted boat rental options!

We send a newsletter only 1-2 times a month

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If that's okay with you, just keep browsing.