Yacht or Boat?: Where to draw the line

A topic that has always fascinated me is the terminological difference between Yacht and Boat.  I don't think anyone would argue that the connotation of a yacht is something that is larger and fancier than a boat.   In fact,  outside of the US a yacht is a sailboat, unless specifically called a motoryacht, which would have engines, but boat is still commonly used.  So where do we make the distinction between a boat and a yacht?  Is it size, price, interior design?  Would a 38 footer be a boat, and a 40 footer be a yacht?  Could a 33 footer costing a million dollars be a yacht, and a 42 footer costing 100K be a boat?  Are there certain features, such as a galley, stateroom, or spa that would separate yachts from boats?   One good distinction brought to my attention is that a Yacht does not rock when you step aboard, but a Boat does.  How do YOU make the distinction between a yacht and a boat?

Comments

[William]

motor yacht terminolgy over here in Europe is used from 50 feet upwards normally

[mtd]

In simplistic terms, a yacht does not have a capacity plate for persons and gear.
A boat does.
It is quite typical that a yacht is built to be superior to a boat and given a choice most prefer a yacht vs boat.

[KB]

The modern line drawn between the two is typically relative to the fit and finish of both the exterior and interior of a vessel. The fairness and finish quality of the surfaces, the quality of the materials and equipment, and the overall attention to detail need to be exemplary in order to warrant the term "yacht"; the size and/or price of the vessel take a back seat to these qualities. Also - just as importantly - a true and proper yacht exists to provide a means of recreation for the Owner,and must not be engaged in commerce of any kind. That line is really blurred when considering "megayachts" that are essentially finely finished charter boats upon which the Owner spends very little time.

[Bentley]

If I were Dutch (that's the origin of the word as I understand it) I could call my 2 meter row boat or my 60 meter superyacht "my yacht". In Holland it is "my boat". I can tell you that Google tells us that the word "boat" is searched for 10 times more often than is "yacht"