What Defines a Mega Yacht?

Large Private Yachts - Fraser Yachts Worldwide: Mega Yachts for Sale

In the world of luxury yachting, there are several different classifications of yachts. There's your standard luxury yacht that measures 40 feet, 12 meters, or more in length. The next category is for large private yachts, otherwise known as mega yachts or super yachts. These large private yachts measure over 80 feet, 24 meters. The last category is reserved for the super large mega yachts well over 400 feet, 122 meters. These giga yachts are about 100 feet longer than your standard football field, and come with amenities that are only accessible to the exclusively rich. Here are some examples of the different categories of luxury yachts, mentioned by the yacht's name, length of the yacht and luxury yacht builder/designer:

• Luxury Yacht - M/Y TEKITOO, 78-foot luxury yacht, Arno
• Mega Yacht - M/Y SOLAIA, 131-foot mega yacht, Hakvoort Scheepswerf
• Giga Yacht - THE OCTOPUS, 414-foot giga yacht, brainchild of Paul Allen

According to MSNBC.com, more and more of the elite rich are turning to mega yachts and their bigger cousins. In 2005, 651 giga and mega yachts were under private yacht construction, up from 507 in 2004 and 482 in 2003 — a nearly $1 billion increase in luxury mega yacht sales. Super large mega yachts keep growing in size. The “grow, grow, grow your boat” craze has luxury yacht builders, yacht brokers and marine architects in a race to build the bigger, better, more luxurious giga yacht.