Choosing between a motor yacht, a sailing yacht, a catamaran and a motor sailer is the decision that shapes a charter or a purchase more than any other. Each performs differently in Greek conditions, costs a different amount to run, and suits a different kind of trip.
This guide compares the four main types across the factors that actually matter in the Aegean and the Ionian.
Quick comparison
| Motor Yacht | Sailing Yacht | Catamaran | Motor Sailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical guests | 6 to 12 | 6 to 10 | 8 to 12 | 8 to 12 |
| Cruising speed | 18 to 25 knots | 6 to 8 knots | 7 to 9 knots | 8 to 10 knots |
| Fuel consumption | High | Very low | Low | Moderate |
| Stability at anchor | Good with stabilisers | Moderate, heels under sail | Excellent | Good |
| Deck and interior space | Generous | Limited | Very generous | Generous |
| Best for | Covering distance, comfort | Traditional sailing | Families and groups | Mixed cruising |
| Meltemi suitability | Good with stabilisers | Excellent for experienced crews | Good, wide beam helps | Good |
Motor yachts
Motor yachts are the most common choice for charterers who want to cover ground and prioritise comfort. Cruising at 18 to 25 knots, a motor yacht can move between islands in a fraction of the time a sailing vessel needs, which matters on a one-week charter where every hour spent in transit is an hour not spent swimming or ashore.
The trade-off is fuel. A 25-metre motor yacht at cruising speed consumes substantially more fuel than any sailing vessel, and on a charter this comes out of the APA. Owners face the same equation, with fuel among the larger annual running costs.
Stabilisers matter more in Greece than in many other cruising grounds. Zero-speed stabilisers, which work at anchor rather than only underway, transform comfort in the Cyclades where swell can enter anchorages even in settled weather. If you are buying a motor yacht for Greek waters, this is worth prioritising, and retrofitting is expensive.
Suits: charterers with limited time who want to see several islands, groups who value interior comfort and air conditioning, and anyone travelling with guests who are not sailors.
Sailing yachts
A sailing yacht offers something a motor yacht cannot: the experience of actually sailing, in one of the best sailing grounds in the world. The Aegean in summer has reliable wind, and for anyone who enjoys the process of sailing rather than simply arriving, this is the point of the trip.
Sailing yachts are markedly cheaper, both to charter and to run. Fuel consumption is minimal, berthing fees are lower for a given guest capacity, and charter rates are a fraction of a comparable motor yacht.
The trade-offs are speed and space. At 6 to 8 knots, distances that a motor yacht covers in an hour take three or four. Interior volume is smaller for a given length, cabins are more compact, and the vessel heels when sailing, which some guests enjoy and others do not.
The meltemi deserves specific mention. From June to September the northerly meltemi blows across the Aegean, frequently at force 5 to 7 and occasionally stronger, for several days at a stretch. For an experienced crew this is superb sailing. For an inexperienced bareboat crew in August it can be genuinely challenging, and itineraries sometimes need to change.
Suits: experienced sailors, couples and smaller groups, charterers on a tighter budget, and anyone for whom sailing itself is the holiday.
Catamarans
Catamarans have grown faster than any other segment of the Greek charter market, for reasons that become obvious the first time you step aboard one.
Stability is the main advantage. A catamaran does not heel under sail and barely rolls at anchor. For families with children, for guests prone to seasickness, and for anyone who wants to sleep comfortably in an open bay, this is decisive.
Space is the second. For a given length, a catamaran offers far more deck and interior area than a monohull. Cabins are separated in the two hulls, giving genuine privacy, and the main deck saloon and cockpit flow together into a large social area.
Shallow draft opens up anchorages that deeper monohulls cannot enter, which in Greece means quiet bays rather than crowded harbours.
The trade-offs: catamarans command higher charter rates than comparable monohulls, berthing fees are higher because they occupy roughly twice the width, and marina space for catamarans is genuinely limited in peak season in popular harbours. They also sail differently from monohulls, less close to the wind and with a distinct motion in a seaway.
Suits: families, groups of couples, charterers who plan to anchor rather than berth, and anyone who prioritises comfort and space over sailing performance.
Motor sailers
Motor sailers sit between sailing yachts and motor yachts, with substantial engines and a sail plan that is genuinely usable rather than decorative. Many in Greek waters are traditional builds, including the wooden gulets found across the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese.
They motor comfortably at 8 to 10 knots when the wind is absent or on the nose, and sail when conditions allow. Interior volume is generous, and traditional builds often have a character that modern production yachts lack.
They suit larger groups, and capacity of 10 to 12 guests is common. Many operate as crewed charters with a cook aboard, which is part of their appeal.
The trade-offs: they neither sail as well as a dedicated sailing yacht nor motor as fast as a motor yacht. For charterers who want one or the other specifically, a purpose-built vessel does the job better.
Suits: larger groups, charterers who want a relaxed pace, and anyone drawn to traditional vessels.
Matching vessel to cruising area
| Area | Conditions | Best suited |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclades | Strong meltemi Jun to Sep, exposed crossings | Motor yacht with stabilisers, or sailing yacht with experienced crew |
| Saronic Gulf | Sheltered, short distances, light winds | Any type; ideal for first charters and catamarans |
| Ionian | Moderate afternoon breezes, calm mornings | Sailing yacht or catamaran; excellent for families |
| Dodecanese | Longer passages, cross-border options | Motor yacht or motor sailer for the distances |
| Sporades | Sheltered, marine park, quiet anchorages | Catamaran or sailing yacht |
Indicative charter rates
Rates vary widely by age, size and season. These ranges reflect what is typically seen in the Greek market for a mid-season charter.
| Type | Typical daily range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sailing yacht, bareboat | From around €400 | Most economical option; qualifications required |
| Catamaran, bareboat | From around €700 | Premium over monohulls of similar length |
| Sailing yacht, crewed | €1,500 to €4,000 | Captain and often a hostess included |
| Motor sailer, crewed | €2,000 to €5,000 | Larger capacity, relaxed pace |
| Motor yacht, crewed | €3,000 to €13,500 | Wide range by size and age |
| Superyacht, crewed | €15,000 upwards | Full crew, peak season considerably higher |
Rates exclude APA, typically 25 to 35 percent of the charter fee, and VAT.
Considerations for buyers
For anyone buying rather than chartering, the same distinctions apply but with additional weight on running costs, which accumulate over years rather than a week.
Motor yachts carry the highest running costs: fuel, engine maintenance, and generally a larger crew requirement. They also depreciate faster in the early years, which makes a well-maintained older vessel a reasonable value proposition.
Sailing yachts are the most economical to own and run. Rigging requires periodic inspection and replacement, typically every ten to fifteen years, which is a planned rather than unexpected cost.
Catamarans hold their value well in the current market because charter demand is strong, but berthing costs are higher and finding a permanent berth in a popular marina can be difficult.
Motor sailers, particularly traditional wooden builds, require specialist maintenance and a yard that knows how to work on them. In Greece these exist and are experienced, which is less true in many other markets.
For owners intending to charter their vessel to offset costs, the commercial registration requirements and licensed guest capacity affect revenue potential directly, and should be examined before purchase rather than after.
Finding the right vessel
Yachts Greece has been matching yachts to owners and charterers in Greek waters since 1979. Our fleet covers all four types, for both sale and charter, across the Aegean and the Ionian.
If you are unsure which type suits your plans, tell us how many people are travelling, where you want to go and what kind of trip you have in mind, and we will shortlist vessels that fit.
Contact: +30 210 983 6312 · info@yachtsgreece.com · Themistokleous 58, Alimos, Athens