Abstract:

During the recent years, in parallel with economic growth, purchasing demand of yachts has been increased. Yachts, a symbol of luxury, wealth and prosperity, are divided into two types as sailing yachts and motor yachts in terms of driving force. In this study, the variables, affecting the yacht type choosing in the purchasing process, were determined. Research data were collected using face-toface interview method with yacht owners who had been determined by the convenience sampling method and those who moor their yachts in IC Cesme Marina. A structured interview form was used during the data collection. Obtained data were analyzed by content analysis method. As a result, variables, affecting the yacht type decision in the purchasing process were determined. Also it was found that speed and comfort were the outstanding reasons for the choosing of motor yachts. On the other hand, "cruising under sail" was found to be one of the most important preference reasons of the sailing yacht decision. The variable of “comfort of the yacht” was found as a common yacht type decision criterion for both yacht types. In addition sailing yacht owners were also detected to give great importance to “the cost of the yachts”

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