Draft
Draft is the vertical distance between the waterline and the deepest point of a yacht's hull, propellers or appendages. It defines the minimum water depth the vessel requires to float clear of the seabed, and is a primary constraint on cruising grounds such as the Bahamas, Croatian inshore waters and many Mediterranean harbours.
What is draft?
Draft is the vertical distance from a yacht's waterline to the deepest point of its hull, propellers or appendages. It defines the minimum depth of water the yacht needs to float clear of the seabed and is one of the most consequential dimensions in matching a yacht to its intended cruising grounds.
Two figures are usually quoted. Loaded draft assumes the yacht at design displacement with full fuel, water and stores; light draft applies to the yacht empty. Sailing yachts with retractable centreboards or lifting keels publish both keel-up and keel-down figures, since the difference can be several metres. On motor yachts the deepest point is usually the propellers, propeller skegs or stabiliser fins; on sailing yachts it is almost always the keel.
Typical draft varies sharply with yacht size and type. A 30-50 metre planing or semi-displacement motor yacht typically draws 2-3 metres. A 70-metre-plus displacement explorer often draws 4-5 metres or more. Modern sailing superyachts with fixed deep keels can exceed 6 metres, which is why many shipyards now offer lifting-keel options.
Why it matters for yacht owners
Draft is the single dimension that determines where a yacht can and cannot go. Shallow grounds such as the Bahamas, Croatian inshore islands, parts of the Adriatic and many Mediterranean marina berths reward yachts with modest draft; deep-draft hulls are routinely excluded or forced to anchor offshore and tender in. For owners planning charter or extensive cruising, draft directly shapes itinerary flexibility, berth availability in harbour and the cost of harbour dues at depth-limited marinas. It is one of the first specifications a broker checks when matching a yacht to a buyer's intended use.
Key facts
- Measured from the waterline down to the deepest part of the hull, keel, propellers or appendages
- Loaded draft is quoted at full displacement; light draft at empty condition
- 30-50 metre planing or semi-displacement motor yachts typically draw 2-3 metres
- 70 metre-plus displacement explorers commonly draw 4-5 metres or more
- Sailing yachts can exceed 6 metres with fixed keels; lifting-keel designs reduce this significantly
- Critical for shallow cruising grounds such as the Bahamas, Croatia, the Turks and Caicos
- Determines marina access and influences harbour dues at depth-restricted berths
- Always cross-checked against the chart depth and tidal range before approaching unfamiliar harbours
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View moreFAQ
What is the typical draft of a superyacht?
Draft varies with yacht size and hull type. A 30-50 metre planing or semi-displacement motor yacht typically draws 2-3 metres. A 70-metre-plus displacement explorer or steel-hulled motor yacht commonly draws 4-5 metres or more. Modern sailing superyachts with fixed deep keels can exceed 6 metres, which is why many builders now offer lifting-keel or centreboard options to allow access to shallower cruising grounds.
Why does draft matter when choosing a yacht?
Draft determines where the yacht can physically go. Shallow cruising grounds such as the Bahamas, Croatian inshore islands and many Mediterranean marina berths favour modest draft; deep-draft yachts are often excluded or forced to anchor offshore and tender guests in. For owners planning to cruise the Caribbean shallows or to access historic Mediterranean ports, draft directly shapes itinerary flexibility and is one of the first specifications a broker checks against an intended use case.
What is the difference between loaded draft and light draft?
Loaded draft is measured with the yacht at full design displacement - full fuel, water, stores and guests aboard. Light draft is measured with the yacht empty. The difference is typically several centimetres on a smaller yacht and can be 20-30 centimetres on a large displacement hull. Brokers and captains quote loaded draft when assessing harbour access, since it represents the worst case for clearance over a bar or in a marina entrance.
How is yacht draft measured?
Draft is measured vertically from the waterline down to the deepest point of the yacht - usually the propellers or skeg on a motor yacht, or the bottom of the keel on a sailing yacht. Naval architects publish the figure on the yacht's specification sheet at design displacement. On board, draft marks painted on the hull at the bow and stern allow the crew to read actual draft and check for trim before entering shallow water.
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