yacht vs house boat

Tags: real estate , housing , moving , water

You May Also Like

10 helpful house hunting apps for 2024.

Josephine Nesbit Aug. 26, 2024

What to Know About Subletting Apartments

Geoff Williams Aug. 23, 2024

7 Luxury Real Estate Trends to Watch

Maurie Backman Aug. 22, 2024

Backyard Features Buyers Want Most

Liz Brumer-Smith Aug. 21, 2024

Signs of a Money Pit House

Maurie Backman Aug. 20, 2024

Timeline for Closing on a House

Josephine Nesbit Aug. 19, 2024

Is Florida's Housing Market in Trouble?

Liz Brumer-Smith Aug. 16, 2024

NAR Settlement Changes Homebuying

Aly J. Yale Aug. 15, 2024

Best Places to Live on the East Coast

Liisa Rajala Aug. 15, 2024

Why is Fort Wayne, Indiana, So Cheap?

Josephine Nesbit Aug. 14, 2024

Contingent vs. Pending

Josephine Nesbit Aug. 13, 2024

Ways to Thank Your Real Estate Agent

Maurie Backman Aug. 12, 2024

How to Paint Your Ceiling

Liz Brumer-Smith Aug. 9, 2024

Should You Disclose Climate Risks?

Kristi Waterworth Aug. 8, 2024

How Real Estate Agents Are Using AI

Maurie Backman Aug. 7, 2024

Most Undervalued U.S. Housing Markets

Patrick S. Duffy Aug. 6, 2024

15 Secrets to Selling Your Home Faster

Josephine Nesbit Aug. 5, 2024

Top Real Estate Companies in Ohio

Maurie Backman Aug. 2, 2024

Buying an Older Home Is a Mixed Bag

Gerard Splendore Aug. 1, 2024

How to Buy a Log Cabin

Geoff Williams Aug. 1, 2024

Better Sailing

Sailboat Vs Yacht: What is The Difference?

Many boaters use the terms “sailboat” and “yacht” interchangeably when they are actually quite distinct. A yacht is a larger boat or ship that is used for recreational purposes. The term “yacht” is of Dutch origin, and it was initially described as a small, swift sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to track down and catch pirates. A boat, on the other hand, is a smaller vessel that can range from a fishing boat to a sailboat in size. So, if you’re interested in this topic, this article will compare yachting with sailing in many ways. Like this, you will have a much better understanding of which option is best for you. Keep reading!

Sailboats and Yachts: Meaning

Firstly, it’s important to understand the meaning of each word. Generally, a boat is a form of watercraft that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. A boat is a watercraft that is small enough to fit on a ship, which is typically less than 1,000 feet long. A ship is a huge vessel with a large carrying capacity that can transport other vessels. The size, shape, and capacity of a boat vary depending on its intended usage. Boats are most commonly employed for navigating places along the water’s edge or inland waterways like lakes and rivers, although they can be utilized on any water source. Boats can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing service to people and vessels on the water, recreational activities, commercial passenger, and cargo transportation across waterways.

So, a sailboat (sailing vessel) is a boat that is propelled primarily by the force of the wind on sails. Keep in mind that the term “boat” can cause some misconceptions about the vessel’s size. People may refer to it as a sailing ship rather than a sailing boat once it reaches a particular size. Also, boats are generally thought to be smaller than ships. A sailboat is a water-borne watercraft whose principal means of propulsion is the wind, which is captured and controlled by triangular-shaped pieces of cloth known as ‘sails.’ On the other hand, a powerboat is a watercraft with an internal combustion engine as its primary source of propulsion.

A yacht is most likely a vessel that is primarily used for personal rather than business purposes. There are yachts that you can hire for a week or more. This might add a little confusion as they are commercially owned but within the hire period, they are used by individuals for leisure purposes. Generally, people usually refer to sailboats as yachts or vice-versa. This is a common phenomenon nowadays, however, there are significantly more sailing yachts than motor yachts at the seaside/marina. If you want to specify a boat that is not largely powered by the wind, use the word motor yacht.

Sailing yachts and motor-powered yachts are the two forms of yachts available today. Yachts range in length from 26 feet to hundreds of feet. A cabin cruiser, or just a cruiser, is a luxury vessel that is less than 39 feet long. A superyacht is typically above 70 feet long. So, what is the definition of a mega yacht? They usually exceed 150 feet in length, but there is no top limit! Note that the world’s largest boat is 728 feet long, or 222 meters.

Let’s now check the main differences between a sailboat and a yacht:

Sails and Motor

The boat may be powered purely by the wind or by one or more inboard or outboard motors, depending on the model. While some larger boats may have very massive engines to provide genuine speed on the water, most yacht engines are far less powerful. Yacht engines are substantially larger, can produce far more power – up to 800hp in some circumstances – and can go many further distances.

If you’re searching for a vessel that’s easier to operate, you could argue that a yacht is a superior option. Sure, the computer components are more complicated, and there is more to manage, but sailing will be simpler. In stormy weather, managing a sail can be tricky. From inside the cabin, you can’t manage your sails. You may, however, operate your yacht from the cabin.

It’s a fact that sailboats will always have sails. After all, it’s their primary source of propulsion. The nail is what propels the boat forward by harnessing the wind. So long as the weather permits, sailing can be done anywhere, at any time. Yachting, on the other hand, has its own set of restrictions. A yacht will usually lack a sail, which can be viewed as a good or negative aspect, depending on your perspective.

The advantage of having a sail over only an engine is that you don’t have to worry about running out of fuel. Fuel is not only costly but also inconvenient and pollutes the environment. When on long voyages, you must always keep an eye on your fuel levels, or you risk breaking down at sea. The great thing with sailboats is that as long as there is wind, a sailboat can sail. If you have an extra sail onboard, you should be alright regardless of what occurs. You have a significantly lower chance of being left stranded at sea.

>>Also Read: Sailboats Vs Powerboats: Why Sailboats are Better

Size Matters

The size difference between a yacht and a sailboat is one of the most significant ones. Most of the time, a sailboat will almost certainly be smaller than a yacht. Of course, some sailboats are larger than others, but if we’re talking about average sizes, a yacht will be larger. The reason that size counts so much when deciding which boat to buy is that the available space is limited. So, if you opt for space note that the larger your boat is, the more space you’ll have. This may seem self-evident, but it is one of the most crucial aspects of your boat to which many people forget to give due consideration.

Generally, when it comes to boats, size will always matter. Except in cases where someone prefers overall better performance and speed. But, keep in mind that almost everything you do will be influenced by the size of your boat. The smaller the boat, the less storage space you have, the less space you have for emergency supplies, and even the less space you have for yourself. Regardless of the size of your boat, your sleeping quarters will most certainly be small. Also, depending on your height, every inch of a room may be crucial.

When there are more people on your boat than just you, size matters the most. If you intend to live alone on your yacht, you will have a significant space advantage. If there are three persons on board, you probably going to need more equipment and devices for cooking or for emergencies. All of this suggests that the sleeping space is the most significant distinction between living alone and living with people. If you live alone on a yacht that can sleep four people in theory, you will have a lot more storage and consequently space.

People on Board

The extent to which the crew will influence your decision is mostly determined by your budget and the size of the vessel you are considering buying. Meaning that if you’re intending to buy a sailboat, you won’t need any crew. Except for your family/friends that live on your boat with you, you basically are the entire crew. However, if you own a yacht, it’s an entirely different scenario.

If you intend to live aboard your yacht, you may require the assistance of one or two crew members. There will be plenty to do even if you are the most essential member of the team, i.e. the captain. This is because you might haven’t already mastered things like navigation, maintenance, plumbing, and engineering. So, a yacht often requires a complete crew to assist with navigation, maintenance, electronics and engineering, repairs, and sometimes even stewards to attend to the passengers.

In other words, having a sailboat means that you can take care of everything yourself. There are only a few computer components that will need to be repaired, and you are unlikely to have an engine. Repairing a sailboat isn’t easy in and of itself; it’s just easier for one person to handle. Meaning that it’s far easier to replace a sail than it is to fix an engine. In bad weather, a small sailboat is just easier to monitor than a large yacht. At the absolute least, another set of eyes will be probably required when sailing with a yacht.

Price also Matters

In general, yachts tend to be more expensive than sailboats. Occasionally, a great deal more. For a variety of factors, the most important of which are materials, design, and construction techniques. Note also that a boat’s price is likely to rise as it becomes more modern. Although this isn’t always the case, it is the vast majority of the time. If money is a key factor in deciding which boat to buy, here’s something to think about: just because a yacht is more expensive doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one. If you have the cash, knowledge, and you know the kind of sailing you will be doing then go for a yacht!

Note also that a sailboat can be outfitted with a variety of amenities and conveniences. But, the sailboat doesn’t always include these features. This will mostly depend on the type of sailboat. As a result, buying a basic sailboat can save you a lot of money. However, most yachts will provide high end amenities. As a result, a motor yacht will cost significantly more than a regular sailboat. Sailboats are also smaller than yachts, which means you have a larger selection of less expensive boats to pick from when making your purchase. But, yachts often start in the six-figure range and can reach millions of dollars depending on the yacht’s size, age, and build quality.

Maintenance and Repairs

Yachts are frequently more expensive to maintain than sailboats. Meaning that boat engines require a great deal of upkeep, and the expense of fuel can be prohibitive for many individuals. For example, did you know that a gallon of diesel fuel in a yacht may only allow you to travel less than 1 nautical mile? If you’re going on a long voyage out to the sea, you can end up spending a lot of money on fuel. A sailboat, on the other hand, can take you wherever you want to go with very little fuel. Bear in mind also that a yacht’s insurance is more expensive than that of a sailboat. One of the main reasons is because it is classified as a yacht.

In addition to the boat’s price there are some other things to consider. The most important one is maintenance and repairs. A boat will always need these and it might need them once per month or once per year. It depends on the kind of repairs and on the way in which you “treat” your boat. Also, if you’re buying a used sailboat, you will need sometimes more research and more money for upgrades. It will be repainted, restored, and upgraded, although it will remain the same size. You should approach buying a boat in the same way that you would with a car. So, according to the size and kind of boat you want to buy, it’s important to keep in mind the price and extra costs as well.

While advanced marine electronics and navigation systems are available on some boats, they are more of a must for yachts. When doing transatlantic voyages, it is critical not only to be able to navigate with precision but also to be able to identify other boats or objects that you may not be able to see, as well as to comprehend your vessel’s performance.

When it comes to technology, it’s not just about whether you’re choosing a sailboat or a yacht. The age of the specific vessel is also something to consider. A sailboat that is more than ten years old may not be as technologically advanced as a brand new sailboat. Better technology can offer a lot of opportunities for you if you decide to buy a yacht. First and foremost, it can make working on your boat much more convenient. There’s no reason you couldn’t work remotely from your boat if you have the ability to set up a functional office with wifi.

Technology also brings up a lot of new possibilities for you when it comes to the act of sailing. A sailboat could traverse the Pacific or Atlantic, but it would be rather difficult. On the other hand, with a yacht, it can be a lot easier. In comparison to a sailboat, your yacht will have advanced navigational systems, warning and guidance systems, and many more safety features.

Sea, Lakes, or Rivers?

Bear in mind that in shallow waters, large yachts are unable to sail. A sailboat is a way to go if you plan on sailing in areas with shallow waters. In the Caribbean, for example, a yacht might be difficult to navigate. At the very least, it’ll be more difficult than sailing. A yacht, on the other hand, may travel to far more places than a sailboat.

A small sailboat might theoretically sail across the Atlantic. However, it can be quite risky, and your boat might not be able to withstand the strong winds and waves. Furthermore, if you’re aboard a sailboat, you can be the only one on board. This means that if the worst happens, far out at sea, there will be no one to aid you. You can do it, of course, but it is risky.

So, smaller boats may normally operate in calmer seas such as lakes, rivers, and shallow harbors. Larger boats, usually between 20 and 30 feet long, can equally navigate rougher ocean seas. A yacht, on the other hand, can sail in deeper ocean waters and handle more choppy seas. Yachts are significantly more ideal for lengthy ocean voyages due to their bigger size, high-tech electronics and guidance equipment, weather protection, and a variety of other characteristics.

>>Also Read: Sailing Vs Boating: Why Sailing Is Better

Sailboat and Yatch Construction

Depending on the anticipated scale of production, sailboat makers can fabricate their own parts or order them. Masts, sails, engines, and metal fittings are common items provided by specialty vendors. Boatbuilders, on the other hand, create their own fiberglass hulls, using Gel coat polyester resin, a catalyst for the resin, woven fiberglass roving, and fiberglass. Wooden hull manufacturers create and shape their own wood in the same way. Note that the main building materials used in boat construction are aluminum, metal, wood, and fiberglass. The unique structure of each material offers a different design and usage as well as additional features to the way in which the boat is built.

Material considerations are important, whether they affect the cost or the durability of the product. Fiberglass, carbon fiber, and metals such as titanium will also be used to construct a boat. On the contrary, a sailboat will most likely be composed of wood or fiberglass. So, in case you value safety and sturdiness above all else, and money isn’t a big issue, a yacht will be significantly safer for you.

The material can also influence the way in which you make repairs. For instance, a wooden boat is much easier to repair than a metal boat. You can make some simple and quick repairs using wood, and they’ll probably last till you get to a marina. To do major repairs on a yacht, you’ll need a lot of specialized equipment and knowledge. Moreover, you may need to ask for a crew member to help you with this.

Sailboat Vs Yacht – Summary

As you can see there are many differences between a sailboat and a yacht. Nowadays many people tend to confuse or don’t be aware of the exact meaning and differences of these vessels, and it’s normal. But, we, as sailors, have to know the differences in order to understand which kind of boat is right for us. For example, if you want big spaces, luxury, or intend to liveaboard then you should opt for a yacht. But, if you want to experience the true joy of sailing, sail anywhere without worrying about polluting the environment or spending too much on fuel, then go for a sailboat! It will entirely depend on your needs and preferences so weigh the pros and cons of each one before making the decision.

In any case, I hope that you have now clarified the differences between these two and that you will make the right choice. I wish you all safe & enjoyable voyages!

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

Related Posts

Atlantic vs Pacific: Which is More Dangerous for Sailing?

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Fishing Line for Trolling

Lagoon Catamaran Review: Are Lagoon Catamarans Good?

Best Inboard Boat Engine Brands

• Buyer's Guide
• Destinations
• Maintenance
• Sailing Info

Hit enter to search or ESC to close.

This site has features that require javascript. Follow these simple instructions to enable JavaScript in your web browser .

• Open Search

Houseboats vs. Cruisers

All it takes is one good head smack to the ceiling either going to bed or waking up in the night, to truly appreciate the comforts and the extra space on a houseboat. Not to mention the awkwardness of nearly being on top of each other with no room to escape when you have guests onboard. No wonder cruiser owners feel they have to "add on" to their boats by creating elaborate docks.

Slip Additions

I've seen setups built forward of a boat slip that would blow away any apartment I've ever lived in. We're talking full-size refrigerators, sinks and flat screen televisions, all sitting out under a covered slip for everyone walking past to see. Maybe privacy is overrated in their minds, but that seems a little odd to me that you'd create your little home away from home into your slip so you'll have a place to hangout. Why would someone go to all this trouble? The answer is simple: they own a cruiser boat and don't have another option.

Unlike a houseboat where you and your guests can comfortably come inside and relax or lounge on the top deck, a cruiser boat is too small to fit your "larger than intimate" groups. So while his houseboat neighbor is enjoying the same summer breeze from the top deck, the cruiser owner doesn't have much of a buffer from the guy out walking his dog past his slip.

You can prepare a gourmet, restaurant-quality meal from your galley with plenty of room to spare. Anything you could ever dream of cooking up from your home can be duplicated onboard. So if you prepare a meal using only your microwave it's by choice, not because you didn't like the idea of being cramped up in a small galley. As for the top deck grill, I don't even need to compare. Up top on most houseboats or even on the bow, there is plenty of room to grill up a masterpiece that makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Everyone Welcome

The space advantages to owning a houseboat compared to other types of boats are truly endless. If you're currently stuck with a cruiser-style boat or in the middle of trying to decide between the two for your next boat purchase, maybe it's time you discovered the square-foot advantages to houseboating.

"Discover Houseboating" is a recurring column that focuses on the advantages of houseboating as well as the benefits of this unique lifestyle.

Like what you read?

Want to know when we have important news, updates or interviews?

Join our newsletter today!

You Might Also Be Interested In...

Why Houseboating Relieves Stress

A Stroll Down Houseboat Row

Houseboating's Healthcare Reform

Baby On Board

The Gift of Houseboating

Kids On Board

Houseboat magazine email subscription service.

Houseboat Magazine has created a secure way for you to receive Houseboat Magazine promotional offers without making your email address available to outside sources. All promotional offers will be sent by Houseboat Magazine. We will NOT give out your name or email address.

Yes I want to recieve offers from Houseboat Magazine (Harris Publishing magazines).

Send to your friends!

RVing or Boating? 19 Main Arguments (Explained)

I’ve dreamed of living in an RV as well as living on a boat for many years.  Luckily, I’ve had the chance to spend time in both and I’ve been out on the water almost as much as I’ve been out in the woods.

Writing for this website has also given me the chance to do extensive research on RVing, boating, and living in small spaces in general.

In this post, I’ll talk about RVing vs. boating.  I’ll talk about some of the things to consider before deciding on one or the other.

Table of Contents

The Advantages of RVing vs Boating

Let’s start with the RVs and why RVers tend to praise their way of life over boating.

1) You Don’t Need a Special License (Usually)

Most motorhomes and towable campers do not require any special licensing requirements.  If you have a drivers license, you can legally drive a motorhome or tow a small to a medium-sized camper.

This isn’t true for every state, however, so you may want to take a look at our page on RVs & Licensing Requirements to see what your state requires.

All but seven states have a mandatory boater education law.

While the boater education law does not always call for a special license, it does require you to take a test and complete a course.  The state of Alabama, as well as some other states, actually make you get a special license as well.

For example, the state of New Jersey requires you to get a license to operate motorboats and jet skis on non-tidal water.  To get this license, you have to complete a course, take a test, and pay an $18.00 licensing fee.

2) An RV May Be Safer to Live In

When you live in an RV, you don’t have to worry about whether or not it is going to sink while your sleeping.  You also don’t have to worry about a large wave knocking your RV over while you’re camped somewhere.

When you live in a boat, you do have to worry about situations like these.

Another factor is that you never have to worry about falling off of your RV and drowning.  Personally, I’ve never been out to see in a boat without other people, but if I did, I’d probably be nervous about going overboard and not being able to get back to my boat.

On the other hand, some might say that boats are safer to live in because you don’t have to worry as much about traffic accidents. 

Also, I’ve never heard of a person being attacked by a bear while sleeping in their boat at sea.

3) You Don’t Have to Learn As Much

Learning how to RV is much simpler than learning how to operate and live in a boat.  This is especially true if you’ve chosen a motorhome to live in.

Smaller motorhomes drive like large vans and even a towable camper isn’t that difficult to get used to.

Here’s everything you need to know in order to be a great RV driver .

Also, if you’re out on the road and you forget how to do something it is much easier to pull over and ask someone than it is to ask for help while out to sea on a boat.

Even navigating with an RV is much easier than navigating in a boat.  If you’ve ever driven anywhere before, you’ll know how to follow the turn-by-turn directions that your GPS gives you.

However, you may have some trouble navigating through different waterways the first time you set out.

Remember, when you’re far out to sea, there aren’t any street signs.

4) Less Risk in Buying a Used RV

Buying a used camper is less risky than buying a used boat.  The reason for this is that a used camper doesn’t have many moving parts.

You can read here about how well an RV keeps its value over time . Even though it’s not impressive, I bet it’s better to sell a used RV than a boat.

In fact, the only parts you truly need to worry about are the axels, brakes, and tires.  Most of the other components will not pose a safety risk.

With a boat, you run the risk of having your motor die while you’re out at sea.  I vividly remember my parents taking me out on their used boat for the first time when I was a kid.

We went out into a channel in the back bay and when we were on our way back, the motor died.

The trip ended with a passerby towing us back to our dock.  Before we went out on the boat again, my parents bought a new motor.

5) Less Expensive to Buy

RVs generally cost less to buy than boats do.

You can easily buy a small travel trailer that you can live in for less than $15,000.00.  A new houseboat will easily cost you five times that much.

In fact, even a small houseboat from the 1980s might end up costing you over $25,000.00 to purchase.

6) Less Dependant on the Weather

While it isn’t fun to go RVing in the rain, you probably won’t end up getting lost at sea if you do.  The weather can quickly make boating more dangerous than RVing and experienced boaters know this.

For this reason, most boaters always carry a weather radio with them and they check the forecast before they head out onto the water.

Even if you’re docked, the weather can make boating more dangerous than RVing.

For example, if you’re docked someplace for the winter, you’ll have to walk across an icy dock to get on and off your boat. 

Slip on a dock and you could end up falling into the icy water.

This could send your body into shock and you might lose your life before anyone has a chance to rescue you.

You won’t find too many issues like this while climbing in and out of your RV, (unless you park next to a dock of course).

7) Easier to Telecommute

When you’re in an RV, it is easy to drive to a place that has good cell phone reception and a solid wifi connection.  Boaters don’t always have this luxury.

If you’re a telecommuting boater, you may have to search hard to find docks that offer wireless internet connections. Or you will need internet over satellite (which is expensive and typically pretty bad…)

Even if you find yourself RVing in remote areas, you can often enhance your Internet capabilities through satellites and range extenders.

While some of these tools do work on boats, they are much more reliable and easy to use in an RV.  In fact, many new RVs now come with built-in range extenders so you may not even have to buy any additional equipment to get great wifi.

8) RV Life is Closer to Life in a Brick and Mortar Home

When an RV is parked somewhere with full hookups, it’s basically like living in a small version of your apartment or house.  The appliances are often very similar and the plumbing works the same way.

If you wake up and decide you want to go for a quick walk, you won’t have any problem doing so.

When you live on a boat, you may be out at sea or in the middle of a lake or river when you wake up.  While this can be a great experience, it can also be a little inconvenient.

If you want to take a walk or buy some milk, you’ll have to travel back to land before you can do so.

9) Shorter and More Forgiving Learning Curve

The items in an RV all have names that you’re probably already familiar with.  A bedroom is called a bedroom, the left side is known as the left side, and the driver’s seat is the driver’s seat.

In a boat, a bedroom is called a berth, the left side of the boat is called the port side, and the driver’s area is called the helm.

Even driving a boat is much different than driving an RV.

You don’t have any brakes to fall back on and the water will push you where it wants when you’re not actively moving forward.

Parking is easier in an RV as well.  With an RV, you just need to make sure the spot is large enough for you to park in.  With a boat, you have to make sure you get your boat to the dock before the tide goes out.  My cousin once made the mistake of failing to get back through the waterway before the tide went out and he ended up stuck in the bay until the tide came back in.

While RVing, you will have to learn a few new skills before venturing out but making mistakes is a little easier.  For example, if you forget

10) You Won’t Get Sea Sick

Park an RV and it stops moving.

If it keeps moving, you’re doing something wrong.  Anchor a boat and it will continue to move and sway with the water.  Some people find this soothing and find it easy to fall asleep on a boat, others get seasick.

Luckily, I’m one of those people that finds it soothing, but I’ve been on many fishing trips with people that spent the trip throwing up over the side.

It did not look fun.

The Advantages of Boating vs RVing

Let’s now switch to boating and list the reasons why some people swear to boat instead of RVs.

11) More Places to Explore

71% of the planet Earth is made up of water.

If you live in a boat you’ll have access to much more of the world than someone with an RV has.

Boats can travel overseas by themselves whereas an RV will actually need to be transported to places overseas on a boat.

For people living on an island like Hawaii, a boat will give them much greater freedom than an RV ever could.  The same holds true for any other island nation or any person trying to visit different islands on a regular basis.

12) More Solitude

Camping out on BLM land in a small RV or overland vehicle can be a solitary experience.  However, it is much easier to run into someone while out on BLM land than it is to come across someone while out in the deep blue sea.  If you’re looking to be alone with the water and the stars, taking a boat into the ocean is surely one of the best places to do it.

13) You Get to Fish and Crab All the Time

An RVer has to get out of their RV to go fishing or crabbing.  Fishing becomes its own sort of side trip that one takes while they are out RVing.

When you’re on a boat, you can fish all day long without ever leaving your home. 

If you want fresh fish, all you have to do is catch it and cook it.  You can’t get much fresher than straight off the line.

14) Fewer Bugs (Most of the Time)

Docks and back bays can be havens for insects like flies and mosquitos.

However, camping in a wooded area also has these insects.  On top of these insects, you have to deal with ticks, roaches, spiders, and a whole host of other bugs that can easily crawl into your RV with you.

Set up camp out in the desert and you’ll also have scorpions to deal with.

15) More Opportunities to Swim

Many houseboats have swimming decks that you can use to jump right into the water from.  In fact, some houseboats even have waterslides built right onto them.

Whether your in a bay, a river, or a lake, you’ll find that the opportunities to go swimming are endless.

Other water recreational opportunities are also easier to come by when boating.  For instance, launching a kayak is simply a matter of walking from your bedroom to the back of the boat.

Want to go waterskiing or kneeboarding?  Just throw your skis on and jump in the water.

16) No Need for a Base Camp

When you live on a boat you really don’t have to set up a basecamp as you might do in an RV.  For example, many people use their motorhomes to drive someplace they’d like to visit and then they get out of it and use their tow car to explore the area.

In this case, the RV is used only as a place to sleep.

With a boat, oftentimes traveling is the entire focus of the trip.

People head out onto their boat to enjoy the act of sailing or just relaxing on their sun deck while out at sea.

17) More Space

An RV must adhere to road restrictions.  This means that it can’t exceed a width of 8.5′ wide.  A very large RV or motorhome may reach lengths over 40′ but in most cases, a typical RV will be between 25′ and 35′.

Houseboats, on the other hand, are usually much larger than this.

Even a small houseboat is usually over 30′ long and 14′ wide.  This provides much more space to live in and more opportunities to have a layout that feels more like home.

Not only this, but many houseboats have multiple floors built into them.

A medium-sized houseboat can easily have up to 4 floors so liveaboards usually have ample opportunities to get away from each other.

For people with deep pockets, the size of a houseboat can become enormous.  I’ve seen houseboats that have their own swimming pools built into them.

You’d really be hard pressed to design a liveable and driveable RV with a large swimming pool built into it.

18) No Gray Water Tanks

RVs usually use two different tanks to get rid of their waste.  The black water tank stores their sewage while the gray water tank stores water from the sinks. Here’s exactly how the grey and black water tanks work .

Boats only have black water tanks.  The water from the sinks goes into the ocean.

This means that boaters don’t have to spend as much time and energy draining their gray water tanks.

Because black water tanks usually fill up more slowly, a boat owner doesn’t have to make as many trips to get their tanks pumped out.

19) Less Traffic

Do you hate this view as much as I do?

Then you know what I mean…

Have you ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours on end?  Sitting in traffic isn’t any fun in a car and it is even worse in a truck that is pulling a large camper behind it.

Driving through heavy traffic becomes more difficult in a big vehicle and it can quickly burn expensive gas.

In a boat, you really don’t have these issues.  Near land, you’ll be traveling slowly but you’ll usually be able to move at a steady pace.

Out in the ocean or in a deep waterway, you might find that you never encounter another boat at all.

20) Autopilot Works!

While you’re away from other boaters, you can turn on your autopilot system.

This system basically drives the boat for you and your only task is to watch out for other boaters.  When you do notice another boater, you can quickly and easily take the controls back from your boat to steer it safely away.

I believe that one day you won’t have to drive your RV but until this day comes, boaters will have the edge when it comes to driving.

RVing and boating are two different things and they can both be a lot of fun.

If you’re new to both of them, why not try one for a while and then switched to the next one.  Many boaters have started out in RVs and vice versa so don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to one over the other.

Click to share...

Boat Reviews

• Boats Specs
• Marine Pros
• Boat Insurance
• Boat Warranties
• Boat Transport
• Boat Towing
• Marine Forecasts

Your Ultimate Boating Resource

What is the difference between a houseboat and a yacht?

When it comes to boating, there are a wide range of options to choose from. Two popular choices are houseboats and yachts. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are some key differences between the two.

Houseboats are essentially floating homes. They are designed to be lived in for extended periods of time, and often have many of the same features you would find in a traditional home. They typically have multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces, as well as full kitchens and even outdoor decks. Houseboats can be used for everything from weekend getaways to full-time living.

Yachts, on the other hand, are designed primarily for leisure and pleasure. They are typically smaller than houseboats and have fewer amenities geared towards long-term living. However, they often feature luxurious accommodations and state-of-the-art technology, making them the perfect choice for those who want to cruise in style. Yachts are also popular for hosting events or entertaining guests.

In terms of cost, houseboats and yachts can vary widely. Houseboats can start at around $75,000, but can easily run into the millions of dollars for high-end models. Yachts can be even more expensive, with prices ranging from $100,000 for smaller models up to several hundred million dollars for the most extravagant vessels.

Despite their differences, both houseboats and yachts offer a unique way to enjoy the water. Whether you’re looking for a comfortable home away from home or a luxurious escape, there’s a boating option that’s right for you.

Related Questions

What type of wood is used for pier pilings, what is the difference between a dock and a floating pier, what is the proper technique for pulling a beginner wakeboarder, what does ‘no wake’ mean on a lake, what is the difference between wash and wake, is wakesurfing possible in the sea, why don’t wooden piers rot, what size wakeboard is needed, how to achieve more pop on a wakeboard, does wake surfing translate to ocean surfing, latest posts, overview of the 2024 sea-doo rxp-x 325, overview of the 2024 parker offshore 2900 cc, what your boat’s beam is and why it matters, power cats of 2024: ultimate guide to the top power catamarans this year, don't miss, our newsletter.

Get the latest boating tips, fishing resources and featured products in your email from BoatingWorld.com!

Navigating the Heat: 10 Safety Tips for a Safe Boat Ride in the Summer Heat

Highs, lows, and tidal know-how: a deep dive into ocean currents, 10 essential tips for fishing near private property, the benefits of using a drift sock: guidance for anglers, lure fishing: secrets for imitating live bait and attracting fish, explore the untapped depths of america’s best bass fishing spots, outboard motor maintenance: tips for keeping your engine in top shape, the essential boat tool kit: tools every boater needs, diy boat building: 8 tips and tricks for building your own vessel, the art of miniature maritime craftsmanship: ship in a bottle, antifouling paints: a guide to keeping your boat shipshape, beginner’s guide to standup paddle boarding: tips and techniques, boating for fitness: how to stay active on the water, kayak safety: how to stay safe on the water, anchoring in a kayak or canoe: how to secure your small boat, overview of the 2024 yamaha 252sd, overview of the 2024 tiara yachts 48 le, overview of the 2024 bass cat jaguar sts, 2024 pursuit os 445: an overview, 2024 aquila 47 molokai review, 2024 sea-doo switch 13 sport review, gear reviews, megabass oneten max lbo jerkbait review, fortress anchors fx-7 anchoring system review, fortress anchors fx-11 anchoring system review, fortress anchors commando anchor kit review, fortress anchors aluminum anchors review, stay in touch.

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

• Privacy Policy

Yachts vs. Boats: What are the Differences?

Table of Contents

Last Updated on April 13, 2022 by Boatsetter Team

Many people use the words “boat” and “yacht” interchangeably, and some lean on the latter to make their ride sound more impressive. But what are the key differences between boats and yachts?

First, let’s look at some broad definitions of a boat, a yacht, and other related vessels.

• “Boat” can refer to just about any kind of vessel— towboat , fishing boat , center console , houseboat , and so on.
• “Dinghy” designates a small boat with a human or wind means of propulsion including a rowing dinghy or sailing dinghy. It also refers to a tender to a bigger boat or yacht.
• “Ship” is a large commercial boat, often used for distance travel and transport of goods or passengers – cruise ship, container ship, etc.
• “Yacht” is typically a larger boat with luxury amenities used as a recreational vessel— motor yacht , sailing yacht .
• “Superyacht” is a large yacht and is often also called a mega yacht . The delineation used to be at 80-feet but again, with today’s size creep, anything under 100 feet would just simply be called a yacht.

So, yacht or boat? Let’s dive deeper into the elements that differentiate a boat from a yacht.

Own a Boat or a Yacht? Learn How to Offset the Cost of Ownership by Listing on Boatsetter

Size of the Vessel

Some place a hard line at 35 feet. Below that, you have a boat and above, it’s a yacht. However, that’s an artificial differentiator.

Just 30 years ago, a 30-foot boat was considered large and could have been a yacht but as recreational boats grow longer, the term yacht has been pushed up the scale.

That said, a well-kept 40-foot boat designed for recreation can technically still be called a yacht (although larger vessels are likely to cost more, price isn’t a good indicator of yacht status primarily because it fluctuates with brand, age, and amenities).

Check out local yacht rentals near you to understand how size plays a difference.

What it’s Used For

A yacht is a vessel designed for recreational purposes. It generally operates on open waters (rather than small lakes or rivers) and has accommodations for overnight guests.

A cruise ship, on the other hand, accommodates a large number of passengers in a commercial setting whereas a yacht carries a smaller number (of paying or non-paying) passengers for private recreation.

Onboard Technology

Advanced technology for navigation, communications, and system operation as well as redundant systems for safety can be found on a yacht that is likely to venture farther.

Again, there are caveats because today’s towboats that are fun day boats also feature technology such as GPS and digital switching that integrates many electrical and electronic features.

Propulsion Types

This is a tricky one. “Yacht” comes from the Dutch word “jaght” which referred to a sailing vessel that was used by the navy to capture pirate ships and later for recreation by the affluent.

Today, a yacht can be a large sailing vessel or a motor yacht. All larger yachts will have a motor for propulsion whether they have sails or not. Sailboats by design have smaller motors so trying to put a horsepower minimum on yacht propulsion is simply inaccurate.

Some define a yacht as having multiple crews to operate the vessel and tend to passengers or guests. The larger the yacht, the more crew will be required to navigate, maintain and service the vessel. That said, a couple who owns a 50-footer can call their boat a yacht although it’s owner-operated.

Luxury and Amenities

This is perhaps the best measure of a yacht. If the vessel offers accommodations, a galley , a head , and is luxurious in its presentation, it’s most likely a yacht.

That said, there are lots of center console fishing boats and towboats that are pretty nicely equipped these days and they wouldn’t be called a yacht.

All yachts are boats, but not all boats are yachts—and the lines are blurry. The word yacht elicits images of posh seafaring experiences while a boat evokes ideas of fun and perhaps work. Do some research to learn what size and type of boat or yacht is best for you .

To a degree, the point at which a boat becomes a yacht is in the ear of the beholder but if you focus on size, amenities, and the type of use, you’ll be able to discern the difference. Then all that remains is to find a way to spend time and have fun on any kind of vessel.

Browse All Available Boat & Yacht Rentals Across the Globe

Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

Browse by experience

Explore articles

Best Yacht Brands by Type

7 Best Waterfront Restaurants in Sarasota to Visit by Boat

7 Best Boating Cities for Your Memorial Day Weekend Getaway

5 Boat Shows You Won’t Want to Miss in 2019

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Italian prosecutors open a manslaughter investigation into yacht sinking off Sicily

The Associated Press

Italian firefighter divers bring ashore the body of one of the victims of a shipwreck, in Porticello, Sicily, on Friday Aug. 23. Alberto Lo Bianco/LaPresse via AP hide caption

ROME — Prosecutors in Italy said Saturday they have opened an investigation into culpable shipwreck and multiple manslaughter after a superyacht capsized during a storm off the coast of Sicily, killing seven people onboard. They included British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter.

Termini Imerese prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed the investigation has been launched, but said no suspect is currently identified.

“We are only in the initial phase of the investigation. We can’t exclude any sort of development at present,” he told reporters at a news conference.

Cartosio said his team will carefully consider each possible element of responsibility, including those of the ship's captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the ship-builder and others.

Everyone from the sunken yacht off Sicily has now been accounted for

“For me, it is probable that offences were committed, that it could be a case of manslaughter, but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate," he said.

The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Prosecutors said the event was “extremely rapid” and information they gained seemed pointing to a “downburst,” a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

Initially, Civil protection officials said they believe the yacht, which featured a distinctive 75-meter (246-feet) aluminum mast, was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

Investigators were also asked why the crew was almost entirely saved, except for the chef, while six passengers remained trapped in the hull.

Local official confirmed that most of the bodies recovered were found in the same part of the ship — on the left side and closer to the surface — suggesting that passengers had sought safety in the cabins where the last air bubbles had formed.

Deputy Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said it was likely that the passengers were asleep, adding that one of the main focus of the investigation is to ascertain whether they were alerted by someone.

Who are Mike Lynch and the other people missing after a yacht sank in Sicily?

Cammarano confirmed that one person was on watch in the cockpit.

Rescuers on Friday brought ashore the last of seven bodies from the sinking of The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged luxury yacht that went down in a storm near the Mediterranean island in southern Italy early Monday. The sailboat was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers.

The seventh victim was Hannah Lynch, 18, the daughter of Mike Lynch., whose body was recovered Thursday. He had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with his family and the people who had defended him at trial in the United States. His wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 survivors.

Rescuers struggled for four days to find all the bodies, making only slow headway through the interior of the wreck lying on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) below the surface.

The other five victims are Christopher Morvillo, one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, and his wife, Neda; Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley’s London-based investment banking subsidiary, and his wife, Judy; and Recaldo Thomas, the yacht’s chef.

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Omsk: Western Siberia's hidden gem

A city view of Omsk. Source: Dmitry Feoktistov

Omsk was founded in 1716 when a wooden fort was constructed to house a Cossack unit in the area to protect the expanding Russian frontier from Central Asian nomadic incursions. It served various administrative functions throughout the 1800s and became infamous as a place of exile and incarceration. The city was rundown when selected as a hub for the Trans-Siberian railway in the 1890s. Many international trade companies and foreign consulates relocated here and the remnants of their offices can still be found in the city today.

The mystery of Kolchak’s gold

Omsk became the headquarters of the anti-Bolshevik white army led by Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak in 1918. In late 1918 there was a revolt in the city initiated by a leftist faction (Socialist Revolutionary Party or SPs) with 500 rebel deaths at the hands of Cossacks and Czechoslovak soldiers, a major factor in convincing the SPs to join the Bolsheviks. There is a large Soviet-era monument to the uprising at the corner of Lenina street and Broz Tito street.  

Kolchak was entrusted with a large portion of the Tsarist’s gold reserves, yet amazingly lost much of it. Supposedly 250 million rubles were lost (about $8 million at the time). Legend has it that they were buried near the village of Taiga, yet numerous excavations have turned up nothing. The area still attracts the occasional fortune seeker.

Kolchak’s headquarters are located at what is today the  Omsk Regional Archives  at Broz Tito St., 3. Nothing shows how much times have changed as the imposing Kolchak statue that was unveiled in 2012 around the corner. The statue guards  Kolchak restaurant , a four-story culinary complex featuring a steak house, an Irish pub, a Central Asian café and an Italian eatery.  For more details on where and how to dig Kolchak's gold, see  Top Ten Mysterious Lost Treasures of Russia

Dostoevsky and the Tsar

At 1.15 million people Omsk dwarfs the region’s second largest city, Tara (population 28,000). The city is split by the River Irtysh into two sections (all places of interest are on the right bank) with downtown emanating from the River Om.

Most foreigners have heard of Omsk via writer Fyodor Dostoevsky who spent four years here as a prisoner (1849-1853). He spent most of his time in Omsk in squalor and chains and with no books besides the Bible, however, it left an indelible mark on his memory and influenced his future literary output. There is a statue of the writer in chains grasping a Bible at the corner of Partizanskaya and Spartakovskaya streets, where Dostoevsky undoubtedly stepped many times. A  museum dedicated to the author's time in Omsk  is located nearby at Dostoevskogo St. 1. The local university is also named for him.

A view of the Assumption Cathedral, Omsk. Source: Lori/Legion-Media

Tarskaya Street is one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares. It features a monument to victims of Stalinist repressions and the Tara gates, originally built in 1792 as one of the four entrances to the Omsk fort. Nearby stands the Assumption Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Siberia. Future Tsar Nicholas II laid the first stone here in 1891 when making his way back to St. Petersburg after his Eastern journey.

In Omsk you are never more than a few steps from the village, made clear when one exits the center to the north, where most houses are wooden and roads unpaved. Stroll along Bulatova and Rabinovicha streets, a well-preserved ensemble of wooden architecture.

Omsk’s cultural heritage 

The Pushkin State Library is worth a look with busts of Russian literary figures adorning the front side of the building. At the corner under the big “M” is one of several stations of the never completed Omsk metro. Construction began in 1992, but as of 2014 the project is again dormant due to financing problems.

One of Omsk’s most famous sons is Symbolist painter Mikhail Vrubel (1856-1910). Vrubel ignored contemporary trends and focused on themes from fairy tales, demons and religious subjects and also designed a majolica frieze for the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. Omsk’s Fine Arts Museum is named for him and features a number of  his works .

Milhail Vrubel's painting 'Demon Seated in a Garden' (1890)

Over the years a number of tourists have tripped over the monument to Stepanych. This bust of a plumber rising from a sewer was the idea of Omsk’s former mayor after a trip to Slovakia in the 1990s. Stepanych has become one of the symbols of the city.

Omsk is a hockey town, with one of the major teams,  Avangard , in the KHL, Russia’s premiere professional league. Russian champions on several occasions, check out a match at Omsk Arena. But if you can’t catch a game there’s a large kiosk featuring the team’s merchandise at the airport.

Siberian   punk, jazz and the classics

While Omsk may not be on everyone’s radar musically, it does host a  musical theater  built just after the war. The building on 10 Let Oktyabrya Street is in the form of an enormous sloping grand piano.

A monument to Stepanych, Lenina Street, Omsk. Photo credit: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lisitsyn 

Perhaps Russia’s most famous punk band,  Grazhdanskaya oborona  (Civil Defence), was formed here in 1982. The band was active until 2008 when lead singer Yegor Letov died of heart failure at age 43. Letov is buried at the Staro-Vostochnoe cemetery. A sprawling graveyard with thousands of graves, fans should stop at the administration for help in locating his grave.

In Russia, Omsk is known among the younger, tech-savvy generation primarily because of the “Omsk bird,” also known as Winged Doom. The origin of what became one of Russia’s most ubiquitous memes comes from a painting by German artist Heiko  Müller. One day in 2009 an Internet user posted this painting with the line, “Welcome to Omsk,” at the top. Additional versions menace viewers stating, “Don't try to leave Omsk,” and “Omsk is closer than you think.” Like many popular memes on the Internet, this one went viral and has become something like an unofficial symbol of the city.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• More to Explore
• Things To Do

The Top 12 Things to Do in Omsk

Feel the love in the very heart of Russia

In Russia, all roads lead to Moscow , on account of the city's status as the national capital and its importance throughout history. If geography were the deciding factor, however, the Siberian city of Omsk would be the point where all Russia's roads converge—it's located literally in the heart of the country, approximately as far from Vladivostok as it is from the Belarusian border. Omsk boasts a spate of exciting attractions, even if you simply make a stop here as you ride the Trans-Siberian Railway eastward or westward.

Marvel at Assumption Cathedral

Chelsea Hicks/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

Orthodox architecture never gets old, even if you've been traveling in Russia for a long time. This is particularly the case when it comes to the Assumption Cathedral of Omsk, whose gold-and-turquoise domes look resplendent under the blue skies that bless Omsk during the warmer months of the year. The cathedral was built in 1891 under the orders Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia.

Time Travel at Omsk Fortress

Ogg-omsk/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

The bad news? Much of what was once Omsk Fortress is now a residential area, with the only notable landmark that still stands being Tobolsk Gate (think Paris' Arc de Triomphe , but yellow and smaller). The good news? There's essentially no reason for a military fortification to exist in today's peaceful Omsk, which means you can stroll amid parks and cafés and imagine the area being war-torn—a small sacrifice to make in exchange for not being blown to bits.

Go Green at Ptich'ya Gavan'

Forinrap/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0 

Or white, as it were: Omsk is covered with snow several months of the year, which means that its prized Ptich'ya Gavan' central park is often more of a winter wonderland than the green reprieve you experience in summer. The park is popular with local families, to whom you can say "Privet" (Hello) as you walk past.

Walk on Omsk's Artsy Side

G0rn/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0

Although the building that houses Omsk District Museum of Visual Arts is unmistakably Russian, the collection you find inside is surprisingly eclectic for a city deep in Russia's interior. Recent collections have included a revival of Van Gogh's great works, among others. This is a particularly enjoyable Omsk attraction on cold winter days, when temperatures can drop far below freezing and sunshine can be rare.

Shoot for the Moon

Worldwide Planetarium Database

Though Omsk is a relatively large city, the skies over it become dark enough in the evening for stargazing. While visitors are not permitted to use the expensive telescopes housed inside, exhibits inside the museum provide a fascinating look into the cosmos, narrated by expert astronomical guides.

Shop on Lenin Street

yykkaa/Getty Images

Lenin Street's name is appropriate: Although it's the high street of a city thousands of miles from Moscow, the European-style architecture and cosmopolitan vibe you feel as you stroll past its boutique and cafés evokes the capital of Russia more than its forlorn interior. Local specialties you can purchase here include rustic jams made from local berries (and even, in some shops, cedar cones), as well as handmade rugs from Kazakhstan, which sits just south of Omsk.

Sample Siberian Cuisine

Quynh Anh Nguyen/Getty Images 

Speaking of unique Siberian food, it's not just preserves made from the fruits of evergreen trees. Omsk is a great place to discover the flavors of Russia's wild interior, whether you eat zagutai and stroganini (Siberia's take on sushi) or classic Russian plmeni dumplings filled with decidedly Siberian ingredients, such as bear and rabbit meat. Vkusno ! (That's Russian for "delicious"!)

Enjoy Historical Houses—While You Still Can

Simon Richmond/Getty Images

The wooden houses that line Nikolskiy Prospekt aren't protected, but they should be. Historical structures that are unfortunately in a state of disrepair, these houses are slated for demolition at some unspecific point in the future. Be sure to catch a glimpse of these historical house before they're gone. There will, however, be at least one left standing for a long time. The Omsk State Art Museum is in a traditional wooden house.

Go to the Circus

Vladislav Domnich/Getty Images

Omsk State Circus is a popular spot for local families, whose children love the opportunity to see acrobatic performances and animals that wouldn't otherwise make appearance in Siberia. If you do attend a show here, keep in mind that ethics with regard to animal treatment might not match up with those in North America or Western Europe, to say nothing of the smell that can pervade the auditorium during and even after a show.

Be a Drama Queen

While there's no guarantee that any shows will be playing at Omsk Drama Theater at the time of your trip, a visit to this 19th century building is a spectacle in and of itself. While not as huge, say, as Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, it's nonetheless an ornate architectural wonder that hearkens back to a glorious time in history. The interior of the theater is even open during the daytime; ask the person who's inside if any tours are available when you turn up.

Explore Cities Deeper in Siberia

Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Images

Siberia starts in Omsk, even if you can't continue far into it. If you don't plan to travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway, take one of two day trips from Omsk. Travel to Tobolsk, whose hilltop Kremlin is one of the most picturesque in all of Russia, and whose beauty inspired a photo by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that ended up winning several awards. Or visit Tomsk, where you'll find a botanical garden dedicated to Siberian flora, and a museum that celebrates wooden architecture.

Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway

 lvinst/Getty Images

The idea of leaving Omsk behind can seem difficult, especially now that you've gotten to know this city in the heart of Siberia as well as you have. The mint-colored facade of Omsk Railway Station will make you smile, however, even if you're crying inside as you depart. Though it's not quite on the mid-line of the Trans-Siberian route between Moscow and Beijing , Omsk is a worthy starting place to begin a journey to either. If you head east make sure to stop in Irkutsk , the home of Lake Baikal and another underrated Siberian city.

Related Articles

More related articles.

Mike Lynch, recently acquitted in HP-Autonomy fraud case, is missing after yacht capsized off Sicily (updated)

Update 2 : His body has now been identified. Story here .

Update : Authorities have yet to access the inside of the sunken yacht, and Mike Lynch is still classified as missing. Other details have emerged in the interim.

The accident appears to have been caused by a major storm and a resulting tornado-like water column that ensnared and damaged the yacht. Among the other six people still missing are Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer. The voyage was to celebrate Lynch being acquitted of criminal charges in the U.S., and several members of his legal team were also on board. (The ship was registered to Lynch’s wife, one of the survivors.) By a terrible coincidence, the other person acquitted in Lynch’s trial — Autonomy’s finance head Stephen Chamberlain — had died just a few days before when he was hit by a car while out jogging. Original article continues below.

Mike Lynch, the investor and high-profile founder of U.K. tech firm Autonomy, has been declared missing at sea after the yacht he was on, the Bayesian , capsized in a storm off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning.

TechCrunch confirmed with a source close to the rescue operation that Lynch is one of six people missing from the boat. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, is one of the 15 who have been rescued. One body has been found.

The news is a dramatic, tragic development for one of the more colorful, and sometimes controversial, figures in technology out of the U.K.

Lynch’s enterprise technology firm Autonomy was acquired in 2011 by HP for $11 billion — a major milestone for U.K. technology. But it quickly turned sour, and HP sued Lynch and other executives at the company, arguing it was misled in the transaction.

HP claimed that the deal led to a $4 billion loss — money it then demanded from Lynch and his former CFO. Lynch (pictured above, left) long asserted that he acted in good faith and that he was being made into a scapegoat over a merger gone bad.

That legal drama went on for more than a decade and involved a host of other thorny chapters, including Lynch’s extradition to the U.S. and a lot of very bad publicity for Lynch. It also led to a second civil case that took place in 2022 in the U.K., which Lynch lost.

The U.S. criminal case, where Lynch was charged with 15 counts of fraud and conspiracy, went to trial earlier this year in San Francisco. Finally, in June, Lynch was acquitted .

“I am elated with today’s verdict and grateful to the jury for their attention to the facts over the last ten weeks. My deepest thanks go to my legal team for their tireless work on my behalf,” Lynch said at the time. “I am looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field.”

In the interim years, Lynch built up a profile in the U.K. as an investor, most prominently as the founder of Invoke Capital . The VC firm was the biggest investor in cybersecurity firm Darktrace, a connection that was not without its own controversy . It also invested in Sophia Genetics , Featurespace and Luminance, among others. And it appeared that this is the route that he was set to continue.

Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and colleagues. We’ll update this post as we learn more.

More TechCrunch

Get the industry’s biggest tech news, techcrunch daily news.

Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.

Startups Weekly

Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.

TechCrunch Fintech

The latest Fintech news and analysis, delivered every Tuesday.

TechCrunch Mobility

TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.

Science-heavy Swiss VC firm Redalpine raises fresh $200M fund for early-stage investments

Many VC funds, especially recent vintages, have failed to return money to their investors. Swiss VC firm Redalpine is one exception, and this largely explains why its newly announced $200…

Wait, what? Pavel Durov says he has fathered more than 100 children

Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging platform Telegram, has been in the headlines since his arrest at a private airport near Paris on Saturday, reportedly in connection with an…

Elon Musk unexpectedly offers support for California’s AI bill

Elon Musk has come out in support of California’s SB 1047, a bill that requires makers of very large AI models to create and document safeguards against those models causing…

OpenAI, Adobe and Microsoft support California bill requiring watermarks on AI content

OpenAI, Adobe and Microsoft have thrown their support behind a California bill requiring tech companies to label AI-generated content, according to letters from the companies viewed by TechCrunch. The bill…

TechCrunch Space: The Starliner saga comes to a close — for now

Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. NASA leadership have made their decision: Starliner will be coming back to Earth — empty. More on that below. Want to reach out…

Polaris Dawn will push the limits of SpaceX’s human spaceflight program — here’s how to watch it launch live

After a nearly three-year interlude, Jared Isaacman is returning to space. The billionaire entrepreneur first went to orbit as part of the Inspiration4 mission, which made history for having a…

Apple will replace CFO Luca Maestri next year

Apple announced today that Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri will step away from his executive role, effective January 1. Kevan Parekh, Apple’s current VP of Financial Planning, will be promoted…

Anthropic publishes the ‘system prompts’ that make Claude tick

Generative AI models aren’t actually humanlike. They have no intelligence or personality — they’re simply statistical systems predicting the likeliest next words in a sentence. But like interns at a…

Durov arrest boosts Telegram app downloads

The arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov in France is starting to impact the app’s traction and ranking. On Saturday, the founder was arrested for allegedly allowing illegal…

Care.com to pay customers $8.5M in FTC settlement for deceiving caregivers, families

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is requiring Care.com, a platform for gig workers in the eldercare and child care space, to pay $8.5 million in refunds for deceiving caregivers…

Palico is now the first FINRA-approved company to facilitate online LP-led secondaries deals

Limited partners selling their investment stakes in venture capital funds to other LPs on the secondary market is nothing new. But traditionally these transactions happen offline through an opaque network…

Niantic aims to build a richer 3D map of the world with a new version of Scaniverse app

Niantic is releasing a new version of its Scaniverse app to let users capture objects around them with more details. Scaniverse 4 will allow users to capture places and objects…

Apple iPhone 16 event set for September 9 with ‘Glowtime’ invite 

Apple will unveil its iPhone 16 lineup on September 9, as the company has started sending out press invites on Monday for the upcoming event. The official announcement comes as…

Beam Mobility secretly deployed ‘phantom’ e-scooters in Australia and NZ to dodge fees and boost profits

Shared e-scooter startup Beam Mobility has placed hundreds of extra “phantom” scooters on city streets in Australia and New Zealand to avoid paying vehicle registration fees to local governments, according…

These fintech companies are hiring, despite a rough market in 2024

While the rapid pace of funding has slowed, many fintechs are continuing to see growth and expand their teams.

Featured Article

The biggest trends young NYC investors are bullish about — and why

As twenty-something-year-old investors enter the venture landscape, they spot new trends that could become the next multibillion-dollar tech businesses.

Tidal launches royalty tracking features for artists

Music streaming service Tidal has launched new features that let artists track royalties and manage their work on the platform.

Red Hat’s OpenStack Services are now generally available on its OpenShift platform

The idea here is to essentially turn OpenStack into a container-based workload that can be managed on OpenShift.

Elevate your brand’s impact: Host a Side Event at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Maximize your brand’s presence by hosting your Side Event in San Francisco during Disrupt Week — October 26 through November 1. Connect with more than 10,000 attendees of Disrupt 2024,…

Cancer survivor launches Oncology Ventures to improve care

Ben Freeberg was an associate at venture firm Alpha Partners when he suddenly passed out in the middle of the day. He sought medical help, and after running a few…

Final week: ScaleUp your startup at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Are you a Series A or B startup ready to make waves in the tech industry? The ScaleUp Startups Exhibitor Program at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 can be your launchpad to…

Five months after Microsoft hired its founders, Inflection adds usage caps to Pi

Inflection will cap free access to its AI chatbot Pi in the coming months, the startup tells TechCrunch. Users can also now export their conversations off the AI chatbot, as…

Viggle makes controllable AI characters for memes and visualizing ideas

You might not know Viggle AI, but you’ve likely seen the viral memes it created. The Canadian AI startup is responsible for dozens of videos remixing the rapper Lil Yachty…

How to tell if your online accounts have been hacked

This is a guide on how to check whether someone compromised your online accounts.

Uber fined $324M over EU drivers’ data transfer breach

Ride-hailing platform Uber has been fined €290 million — around $324 million at current exchanges rates — by the Netherlands’ privacy watchdog for breaching the European Union’s General Data Protection…

Loft Orbital forms joint venture with UAE-based firm to scale satellite production in the Middle East

A holding company affiliated with an Emirati royal family is injecting a new joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space and startup Loft Orbital with over $100 million to grow…

In 2024, it really is better to run a startup in San Francisco, according to data and founders who’ve relocated

San Francisco’s AI startup boom is so big, even international founders who don’t run AI startups are relocating there to help their companies grow, according to several founders who recently…

Y Combinator backs its first defense startup, Ares Industries

The first defense startup to receive backing from Y Combinator, Ares Industries, launched earlier this week. In a post on the YC website, the startup outlined a vision to build…

Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested in France

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, was arrested on Saturday evening while leaving his private jet at France’s Le Bourget Airport, as initially reported by French television…

The Port of Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport say they’ve been hit by ‘possible cyberattack’

The Port of Seattle, which also operates the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, said it was hit with a “possible cyberattack” that appeared to affect websites and phone systems. The port first…

The New Order: Last Days of Europe Wiki

Attention everyone, The New Order: Last Days of Europe Wiki on Fandom will no longer be used, except for TNO Styled GFX Icons . The new wiki is located at https://tno.wiki.gg/ and please claim your old username (with contributions) at https://tno.wiki.gg/wiki/Special:ClaimExternalAccount/ .

Omsk , officially the Siberian Black League , is a warlord state in Western Siberia. Occupying the territory of the former Omsk Oblast, it borders Tomsk to the north, the Kazakh SSR to the south, Tyumen to the east, and Novosibirsk to the west.

• 2.1 National spirits
• 2.2 Cabinet
• 3.1 Generals

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union , the city of Omsk, initially held by the West Siberian People's Republic , was seized by a league of ultranationalists sharing views of anti-German sentiment and revanchism. Led by Dmitry Karbyshev 's All-Russian Black League, upon the seizing of Omsk, the ultranationalist regime had to industrialize and fortify it. In a way, some could say it's nothing but a fortified city in which the Black League militarizes and prepares for its future conflicts.

The political system of Omsk is governed as a militarist one-party state since its founding, ruled by Karbyshev and his like-minded comrades of the All-Russian Black League, an organization fanatically devoted to revanchism against the Greater Germanic Reich . However, at heart, Karbyshev is a Russian and while he sought to create an ultranationalist military state to take revenge against Germany, he did not account for the despots that wished to claim as much power as possible from him. Karbyshev is represented in-game as a dying man soon to fall, due to him leading a brutal military dictatorship, while being opposed to the radical rhetoric of his officer clique. The Black League has since become an ultranationalist state, even more radical in their hatred of Germany. Due to Karbyshev's declining health, many of the other officers have gained massive influence in the leadership of Omsk. The reality is that Karbyshev started a movement that assumed it was able to change the hearts of the despots with nationalism rather than terror; but it has since been corrupted beyond his visions, and there is little he can do to stop the train of degeneracy. Indeed, once Karbyshev dies and Omsk is still around, actual ultranationalist and General Dmitry Yazov will assume leadership of the Black League and prevent the despotic cliques from growing.

Under the sheer doctrine of anti-German sentiment, the theory of the “Great Trial” in Omsk comes in. This is where the warlord state will prepare for its final assault on the Reich, as revenge for the “First Trial” which brought the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the “Second Trial” being the West Russian War . Their hatred doesn't stop with just Germany, but it includes many who collaborated with them. Some officers of the Black League even go as far as to want to destroy the United States for not helping enough during the Great Patriotic War. In preparation for their war with Germany, they are expectant of nuclear strikes and so have started to construct massive metro tunnels to double as shelter from the warheads and radioactive fallout. The resolve of the Black League cannot be stopped, even with the threat of nuclear war.

Omsk is one of the hardest paths in TNO, due to it being weaker than a lot of the surrounding warlords and being unable to conduct diplomacy at all. To reunite Russia, Omsk will have to fight every single state in its way. Their end goal is the complete extermination of the Reich and the German people, and they will stop at nothing to reach this. They are hard-coded for hostility and are always at war with someone, but an AI Omsk will almost always never be successful. Despite being founded on nothing but hatred, when they unify Western Siberia and start to emerge on the international stage, they actually try to conceal their ideology and ambitions from foreign influences. They stick with a nondescript name of the “West Siberian Provisional Authority” under the guise of a protective military authority and switch their ideology to “Despotism”.

National spirits

After Dmitry Yazov comes to power and purges the Black League's old guard, the cabinet changes to:

Omsk has at least eleven generals.

• Ironically, according to a former developer of West Siberia, Omsk at one point had a National Socialist path as a "sane" option, due to now-former head developer Pink Panzer wanting every region in Western Siberia to have multiple paths. This was changed after the other developers convinced him to have Omsk only have one path.
• Omsk was partially inspired by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia , a militant group that aspired to carve out an ethnic Armenian homeland in eastern Turkey.

• 1 SS State of Burgundy
• 2 Sergey Taboritsky
• 3 National Socialism

Superyacht maker's CEO: Bayesian's crew made an 'incredible mistake'

The body of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch was recovered Thursday from his family's superyacht that sank off the coast of Italy after it encountered a sudden and powerful storm, authorities said.

After four bodies were recovered from the wreck Wednesday, Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, remains the only person unaccounted for, Massimo Mariani, of Italy's interior ministry, told Reuters. Her body may have been swept out to sea, Mariani said.

It could take divers more time to find her body because of the difficulties of accessing the sunken ship more than 160 feet down, said Luca Cari, a fire brigade spokesperson. Rescuers faced a challenging task in scouring extremely deep and narrow spaces around the boat.

Giovanni Costantino, the CEO of Italian ship manufacturer Perini, which made the ship in 2008, told Reuters on Thursday, "The boat suffered a series of indescribable, unreasonable errors."

He said the crew made an "incredible mistake" in not preparing for the storm, even though it was announced in a shipping forecast earlier. "This is the mistake that cries out for vengeance," he said.

Lynch, 59, was best known as the co-founder of Britain’s largest enterprise software, Autonomy, which was sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2011. He had invited his friends on the yacht to celebrate his acquittal in June of fraud charges related to the sale of Autonomy.

The Bayesian, a 184-feet-long British-registered sailboat, went down just before sunrise Monday off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, where it was anchored when a strong storm swept across the area. Of the 22 passengers and crew members on board, 15, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were pulled from the water Monday, and several were hospitalized. Divers then recovered the body of Ricardo Thomas, the yacht's chef, near the ship.

Who were among the missing?

An exhaustive search ensued for six missing people: Lynch and his daughter; Judy and Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Jonathan Bloomer was a character witness at Lynch’s fraud trial, and Chris Morvillo, an American citizen, was part of the team that represented Lynch.

Hannah, the younger of Lynch's two daughters, was preparing to study English literature at Oxford University, according to the Sunday Times.

Start your day smart. Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Briefing newsletter.

Investigation opened into the tragedy

Local prosecutors have opened an investigation into the disaster and will hold a press conference on Saturday.

Costantino said there were no errors in the ship's construction or design. "It went down because it took on water. From where, the investigators will tell," he said.

The ship, owned by Lynch's wife, Bacares, was constructed in accordance with international maritime standards and commercially certified by the U.K.'s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, according to Matthew Schanck, chairman of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council. It was refitted for the second time in 2020.

Experts have pointed to  a waterspout, a tornado over the water that can travel up to 120 mph, that formed during the storm, as well as the weight of the ship's mast, one of the largest in the world, as possible factors in its sinking.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci , USA TODAY ; Reuters

• ENVIRONMENT

A sea tornado just sank a yacht in the Mediterranean. We might be seeing more of them.

A deadly waterspout is strongly suspected of sinking a yacht off the coast of Italy. Scientists weigh in on whether they’ll worsen as the planet warms.

A superyacht carrying 22 people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, sank off the coast of Palermo, Italy, in the early hours of August 19.  

The 183-foot Bayesian yacht is believed to have been hit by a waterspout —a tornado that forms over the ocean—and some experts are concerned that climate change could worsen these storms in the Mediterranean and other quickly warming waters.

Here’s what you need to know about waterspouts and whether hotter temperatures could cause more of them.

What is a waterspout?

A waterspout is a tornado that forms over water. “The tornado doesn't really care what surface it’s over,” says David Sills, executive director of the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University in Ontario, Canada. “Whether it's a city or a forest or crops or water, the tornado is going to do its thing."  

These columns of rotating air “form where an air boundary exists, for example where warm and cold air collide,” says a spokesperson at the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) via email.

Changes in wind direction at different heights can cause a rotation.

“Imagine just above the ocean, the wind is blowing in one direction,” says Peter Inness , meteorologist at the University of Reading. When the wind higher up blows in another direction, “the air between those two levels of wind starts rotating around the horizontal axis.”

The warm air below rises and these “spinning parcels of air are also lifted and stretched in this process and can concentrate on the surface of the water creating a vortex,” says the BOM.

As the air is sucked upwards into the storm, the spinning intensifies like taking the plug out of the bath, says Innes: “the water going down the plughole rotates very intensely because it's being sucked downwards.”

It’s similar to a figure skater, adds Sills: “When they bring in their arms, and then they spin faster and faster.”  

How dangerous are waterspouts for boats?

Although the wind associated with waterspouts can reach 55 miles per hour, they typically move at under 25 miles per hour, are short-lived, and don’t cause much damage. “They usually only impact any single point for a few minutes,” says the BOM.

The Bayesian was moored overnight when it sank. Although people have attributed this to a waterspout, it’s not yet been confirmed.  

“It was dark and there are no images available,” says Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society , via email.

Boats are designed to right themselves when blown over by strong winds. “Those sailboats have a big, heavy keel so that when you start to go over, it pulls you back up,” says Sills.

But if water gets into the ship, it can lose buoyancy. “It's called a knockdown,” he says. “Time spent over like that means water and waves can get into open doors and it starts to take on water. Then you start to sink.”

The rapid change in wind strength and direction are also dangerous for boats, says Innes, “because it could result in the boat rocking backward and forward very violently.”

Will climate change cause more waterspouts?

One study has found more frequent waterspouts off the coast of Spain’s Balearic Islands when sea surface temperatures are higher, particularly between 73 and 78°F.

This year, “the Mediterranean is [over 5°F] above average,” says Mercalli, which is “an anomaly considered "extreme". These unusually warm waters could be partly due to climate change as well as year-on-year variability.

Some people are concerned that climate change could cause an increase in tornadoes on land and water.

“Global warming will increase all weather extreme events, because it injects more energy into the atmosphere,” says Mercalli.

But experts are wary of confirming a definite link with climate change. “Waterspouts are a very short-lived and local scale phenomena, and therefore difficult to attribute to impacts of climate change,” says the BOM.

The Mediterranean is warming more quickly than the rest of the ocean. Although climate change will make sea surface temperatures warmer, it’s unclear how it will affect the other conditions needed to create waterspouts.

Waterspouts need a temperature difference between air and sea. If the air is warming at the same rate as the bodies of water, an increase in waterspouts is unlikely, says Sills.  

Low pressure is also needed. “Even if the water is really warm, if you've got an area of high pressure over the Mediterranean, you won't get those thunderstorms,” says Inness. “You won't get waterspouts.”

Wind direction also comes into play. In this region, humid air from the north is more likely to cause storms than dry winds coming up from North Africa.    

Due to poor historic data, it’s not possible to confirm that waterspouts are increasing, says Mercalli, “but surely all heavy storms, including thunderstorms that generate strong winds, downbursts, heavy rains and hail are increasing worldwide and in Italy.”

Become a subscriber and support our award-winning editorial features, videos, photography, and much more.

For as little as $2/mo.

Related Topics

• CLIMATE CHANGE

You May Also Like

'Twisters' put storm chasing on the map—but here's what it's really like

How wildfires unleash fire clouds—and even fire tornadoes

The link between extreme weather and climate change has never been more clear

2024 hurricane season forecasted to be record-breaking year

Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?

• Best of the World
• Environment
• Paid Content

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• Out of Eden Walk
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved