Listings usually name a motor yacht by its type: flybridge, hardtop, sports, trawler, explorer. The name tells you roughly what kind of cruising and what kind of life aboard the boat is built for. A flybridge and a trawler of the same length do not answer the same need.
The hull comes first
The first thing that separates the types is the hull. A planing hull rises onto the surface of the water above a certain speed and allows the boat to go fast, and fuel consumption climbs markedly as speed rises. A displacement hull pushes through the water. Its speed is limited by the length of the hull, but it is efficient at low speed and has an easy motion at sea. A semi-displacement hull sits between the two. Most flybridge, hardtop and sports boats have planing hulls, while displacement and semi-displacement hulls are more common among trawlers and explorers.
Flybridge
A flybridge boat has a second helm position and a large seating area above the main deck. The view from up there is good, and there is more room for guests than on other types of the same length. It is a good choice if you plan to stay aboard for long spells with the family and to have guests often. As the superstructure gets taller, the area the wind can catch grows, and you need to allow for that when manoeuvring in strong wind.
Hardtop
On a hardtop boat the helm and the cockpit are covered by a fixed roof, part of which often opens. Life aboard is on one level, the saloon and cockpit run into each other and it is easy to keep out of the sun. With no separate living area up top, there is less open-air space than on a flybridge of the same length. In return the profile is lower.
Sports yachts
On sports types, speed, handling and being close to the water come first. The profile is low and the cockpit is open. They suit day trips to the bays and short passages. The interior is smaller than on a flybridge or hardtop of the same length, and the open cockpit is more exposed to the weather. If you will use the boat often and at speed, fuel deserves its own line in the budget.
Trawler and explorer
A trawler is meant to cover long distances comfortably and economically, and speed takes second place. Cruising speed is low, while range and interior volume are generous. It suits owners who count the passage as part of the trip and like to live aboard for long periods. It may not suit someone who wants to see a lot of places in a short time.
Explorer yachts are built to look after themselves for long periods in areas far from any harbour. They have large fuel and water capacity, a strong build, plenty of storage and, often, lifting gear for the tender. Those abilities mean more complex systems, a heavier maintenance load and a larger berth. If you will mostly use the boat close to the coast, you may not need all that capacity.
Choosing by use
The boundaries between the types are not sharp, and some boats combine features of two. So we begin the search with how you will use the boat. For fast day use, a sports or hardtop boat stands out. For staying aboard with a large family and guests, it is the flybridge. For long, unhurried passages it is the trawler, and for long independent spells in distant waters, the explorer.
With types, too, the first question stays the same: how will you use the boat?
