yacht rock funny sayings

Yacht Rock/Quotes

• 1 Michael McDonald
• 2 Kenny Loggins
• 3 Hollywood Steve
• 4 Gino Balzarelli
• 5 John Oates
• 6 Walter Becker
• 7 Steve Porcaro
• 9 External Links

Michael McDonald [ ]

• "Goddamn it, Loggins, the smooth grooves of this song will make it to at least #2!"
• "You wanna come over? James Ingram and I are getting wasted and writing smooth music."
• "What did you say? Yah mo' be there?"

Kenny Loggins [ ]

• "You're drowning in the past, Mike. But I've got your life vest right here: it's called the 80's, and it's gonna be around forever!"
• "Fuck you! You're not Koko. Koko's dead as shit."

Hollywood Steve [ ]

• "Oh, hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. You caught me relaxing in my music nook."
• "Oh, hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. You caught me basting some lamb shanks."
• "Oh, hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. You caught me taking a shit."
• "Oh, hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. You caught me attending the funeral of a loved one."
• "Oh, hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. You've caught me murdering a homeless woman."
• "Oh, hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. You've caught me making love."
• "Hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. I'm ready for you this time."
• "Oh, hi, I'm Hollywood Steve. You've caught me becoming estranged from my spouse."
• As part of the 2005 Channy Awards opening Sequence.

Gino Balzarelli [ ]

• "Yo, Mike, you wanna take it up the ass, or take it to the streets!? "

John Oates [ ]

• "Shut the fuck up! All of you, shut the fuck up! Hall and I will not stand idly by while you California vagina sailors stab the American airwaves in the balls with your shit ... music!"
• "Gino will get you everything you ever need: fame, fortune... vagina."
• "Get your dick out of your heart! Do you even know what the kids on the street are listening to? Disco, motherfucker!"

Walter Becker [ ]

• "Donald says, 'Koko's not truly dead until the smooth music is.'"

Steve Porcaro [ ]

• "Alright Toto, I've done some research, and I've found out that the root chakra is my taint. That means she really wants to fuck me."

Dr. Dre [ ]

• "Come on Amnesia Jack, you're a Doobie Brother... Michael McDonald, one smooth motherfucker!"
• "This is gonna be some good-ass banana bread."

External Links [ ]

• Wikiquote page.
• 1 Story Structure 101: Super Basic Shit
• 2 Story Structure 104: The Juicy Details
• 3 2 Girls, 1 Cup: The Show

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Michael Jackson: [while Eddie Van Halen plays "Beat It"] Hard rock has got me and Eddie drillin' more cooch than Black and Decker!

Harold Ramis: [Gene hangs Harold off a balcony because he doesn't like the theme song to Caddyshack] Okay, okay, I'll get a new theme song! I'll get anyone you want! Who do you want, Gene?

Gene Balboa: Kenny Loggins.

Harold Ramis: Loggins?

Gene Balboa: A hit machine with the heart of a rock-and-roller. Unfortunately, he's trapped in a prison of gentle grooves. You must free him and get a rocking theme out of him. Now get the f*** off my veranda. Manuel, I need more oil!

Michael McDonald: Kenny snuck into the studio to record a song for Hollywood? Dear God, I hope it's smooth!

'Hollywood' Steve Huey: Looks like Mike has finally reached the fifth stage of grieving: acceptance. And Kenny's reached the sixth: rocking out.

Steve Porcaro: Now, in the unlikely even that this plan should fail, I will turn to you, my brothers in Toto, to help me write a song so smooth and awesome that Rosanna Arquette will have no choice but to f*** my brains out.

DJ Tom Savarese: [playing the debut of "Rosanna" on the radio] Right now, brand new bakery-fresh music from Toto, and forgive my Francais but f***in' sh*t, I wish I knew the girl this song was written about!

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Yacht rock is a neologism for a broad music style and aesthetic commonly associated with soft rock, one of the most commercially successful genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

• Peter Beckett , who co-wrote Player 's 1977 song "Baby Come Back," quoted in "Can You Sail to It? Then It Must Be 'Yacht Rock'" , The Wall Street Journal (October 11, 2015)
• Jennifer Otter Bickerdike , "Cruise control: how yacht rock sailed back into fashion" , The Guardian (April 20, 2016)
• Broadly speaking, yacht rock is an ocean of smooth, soft-listening music made in the late '70s and early '80s by artists like Toto , Hall & Oates and Kenny Loggins — music you can sail to.
• David Dye , "That '70s Week: Yacht Rock" (March 15, 2017)
• JD Ryznar , quoted in "That '70s Week: Yacht Rock" (March 15, 2017)

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Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs

Yacht rock was one of the most commercially successful genres to emerge from the '70s and yet has managed to evade concise definition since its inception. For many listeners, it boils down to a feeling or mood that cannot be found in other kinds of music: Simply put, you know it when you hear it.

Some agreed-upon elements are crucial to yacht rock. One is its fluidity, with more emphasis on a catchy, easy-feeling melody than on beat or rhythm. Another is a generally lighthearted attitude in the lyrics. Think Seals & Crofts ' "Summer Breeze," Christopher Cross ' "Ride Like the Wind" or Bill Withers ' "Just the Two of Us." Yes, as its label suggests, music that would fit perfectly being played from the deck of a luxurious boat on the high seas.

But even these roughly outlined "rules" can be flouted and still considered yacht rock. Plenty of bands that are typically deemed "nyacht" rock have made their attempts at the genre: Crosby, Stills & Nash got a bit nautical with "Southern Cross," leading with their famed tightly knit harmonies, and Fleetwood Mac also entered yacht rock territory with "Dreams" – which, although lyrically dour, offers a sense of melody in line with yacht rock.

Given its undefined parameters, the genre has become one of music's most expansive corners. From No. 1 hits to deeper-cut gems, we've compiled a list of 50 Top Yacht Rock Songs to set sail to below.

50. "Thunder Island," Jay Ferguson (1978)

Younger generations might be more apt to recognize Jay Ferguson from his score for NBC's The Office , where he also portrayed the guitarist in Kevin Malone's band Scrantonicity. But Ferguson's musical roots go back to the '60s band Spirit; he was also in a group with one of the future members of Firefall, signaling a '70s-era shift toward yacht rock and "Thunder Island." The once-ubiquitous single began its steady ascent in October 1977 before reaching the Top 10 in April of the following year. Producer Bill Szymczyk helped it get there by bringing in his buddy Joe Walsh for a soaring turn on the slide. The best showing Ferguson had after this, however, was the quickly forgotten 1979 Top 40 hit "Shakedown Cruise." (Nick DeRiso)

49. "Southern Cross," Crosby, Stills & Nash (1982)

CSN's "Southern Cross" was an example of a more literal interpretation of yacht rock, one in which leftover material was revitalized by Stephen Stills . He sped up the tempo of a song titled " Seven League Boots " originally penned by brothers Rick and Michael Curtis, then laid in new lyrics about, yes, an actual boat ride. "I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce," Stills said in the liner notes  to 1991's CSN box. "It's about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds." The music video for the song, which went into heavy rotation on MTV, also prominently displayed the band members aboard a large vessel. (Allison Rapp)

48. "Jackie Blue," the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1974)

Drummer Larry Lee only had a rough idea of what he wanted to do with "Jackie Blue," originally naming it after a bartending dope pusher. For a long time, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils' best-known single remained an instrumental with the place-keeper lyric, " Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Jackie Blue. He was dada, and dada doo. He did this, he did that ... ." Producer Glyn Johns, who loved the track, made a key suggestion – and everything finally snapped into place: "No, no, no, mate," Johns told them. "Jackie Blue has to be a girl." They "knocked some new lyrics out in about 30 minutes," Lee said in It Shined: The Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils . "[From] some drugged-out guy, we changed Jackie into a reclusive girl." She'd go all the way to No. 3. (DeRiso)

47. "Sailing," Christopher Cross (1979)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more quintessential yacht rock song than “Sailing.” The second single (and first chart-topper) off Christopher Cross’ 1979 self-titled debut offers an intoxicating combination of dreamy strings, singsong vocals and shimmering, open-tuned guitar arpeggios that pay deference to Cross’ songwriting idol, Joni Mitchell . “These tunings, like Joni used to say, they get you in this sort of trance,” Cross told Songfacts in 2013. “The chorus just sort of came out. … So I got up and wandered around the apartment just thinking, ‘Wow, that's pretty fuckin' great.’” Grammy voters agreed: “Sailing” won Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Arrangement at the 1981 awards. (Bryan Rolli)

46. "Just the Two of Us," Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr. (1980)

A collaboration between singer Bill Withers and saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. resulted in the sleek "Just the Two of Us." When first approached with the song, Withers insisted on reworking the lyrics. "I'm a little snobbish about words," he said in 2004 . "I said, 'Yeah, if you'll let me go in and try to dress these words up a little bit.' Everybody that knows me is kind of used to me that way. I probably threw in the stuff like the crystal raindrops. The 'Just the Two of Us' thing was already written. It was trying to put a tuxedo on it." The track was completed with some peppy backing vocals and a subtle slap bass part. (Rapp)

45. "Sara Smile," Daryl Hall & John Oates (1975)

It doesn't get much smoother than "Sara Smile," Daryl Hall & John Oates ' first Top 10 hit in the U.S. The song was written for Sara Allen, Hall's longtime girlfriend, whom he had met when she was working as a flight attendant. His lead vocal, which was recorded live, is clear as a bell on top of a velvety bass line and polished backing vocals that nodded to the group's R&B influences. “It was a song that came completely out of my heart," Hall said in 2018 . "It was a postcard. It’s short and sweet and to the point." Hall and Allen stayed together for almost 30 years before breaking up in 2001. (Rapp)

44. "Rosanna," Toto (1982)

One of the most identifiable hits of 1982 was written by Toto co-founder David Paich – but wasn't about Rosanna Arquette, as some people have claimed, even though keyboardist Steve Porcaro was dating the actress at the time. The backbeat laid down by drummer Jeff Porcaro – a "half-time shuffle" similar to what John Bonham played on " Fool in the Rain " – propels the track, while vocal harmonies and emphatic brass sections add further layers. The result is an infectious and uplifting groove – yacht rock at its finest. (Corey Irwin)

43. "Diamond Girl," Seals & Crofts (1973)

Seals & Crofts were soft-rock stylists with imagination, dolling up their saccharine melodies with enough musical intrigue to survive beyond the seemingly obvious shelf life. Granted, the lyrics to “Diamond Girl,” one of the duo’s three No. 6 hits, are as sterile as a surgery-operating room, built on pseudo-romantic nothing-isms ( “Now that I’ve found you, it’s around you that I am” — what a perfectly natural phrase!). But boy, oh boy does that groove sound luxurious beaming out of a hi-fi system, with every nuance — those stacked backing vocals, that snapping piano — presented in full analog glory. (Ryan Reed)

42. "What You Won't Do for Love," Bobby Caldwell (1978)

Smooth. From the opening horn riffs and the soulful keyboard to the funk bass and the velvety vocals of Bobby Caldwell, everything about “What You Won’t Do for Love” is smooth. Released in September 1978, the track peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to become the biggest hit of Caldwell’s career. It was later given a second life after being sampled for rapper 2Pac's posthumously released 1998 hit single “Do for Love.” (Irwin)

41. "We Just Disagree," Dave Mason (1977)

Dave Mason's ace in the hole on the No. 12 smash "We Just Disagree" was Jim Krueger, who composed the track, shared the harmony vocal and played that lovely guitar figure. "It was a song that when he sang it to me, it was like, 'Yeah, that's the song,'" Mason told Greg Prato in 2014. "Just him and a guitar, which is usually how I judge whether I'm going to do something. If it holds up like that, I'll put the rest of the icing on it." Unfortunately, the multitalented Krueger died of pancreatic cancer at age 43. By then, Mason had disappeared from the top of the charts, never getting higher than No. 39 again. (DeRiso)

40. "Crazy Love," Poco (1978)

Rusty Young was paneling a wall when inspiration struck. He'd long toiled in the shadow of Stephen Stills , Richie Furay and Neil Young , serving in an instrumentalist role with Buffalo Springfield and then Poco . "Crazy Love" was his breakout moment, and he knew it. Rusty Young presented the song before he'd even finished the lyric, but his Poco bandmates loved the way the stopgap words harmonized. "I told the others, 'Don't worry about the ' ooh, ooh, ahhhh haaa ' part. I can find words for that," Young told the St. Louis Dispatch in 2013. "And they said, 'Don't do that. That's the way it's supposed to be.'" It was: Young's first big vocal became his group's only Top 20 hit. (DeRiso)

39. "Suspicions," Eddie Rabbitt (1979)

Eddie Rabbitt 's move from country to crossover stardom was hurtled along by "Suspicions," as a song about a cuckold's worry rose to the Top 20 on both the pop and adult-contemporary charts. Behind the scenes, there was an even clearer connection to yacht rock: Co-writer Even Stevens said Toto's David Hungate played bass on the date. As important as it was for his career, Rabbitt later admitted that he scratched out "Suspicions" in a matter of minutes, while on a lunch break in the studio on the last day of recording his fifth album at Wally Heider's Los Angeles studio. "Sometimes," Rabbitt told the Associated Press in 1985, "the words just fall out of my mouth." (DeRiso)

38. "Moonlight Feels Right," Starbuck (1976)

No sound in rock history is more yacht friendly than Bruce Blackman’s laugh: hilarious, arbitrary, smug, speckled with vocal fry, arriving just before each chorus of Starbuck’s signature tune. Why is this human being laughing? Shrug. Guess the glow of night will do that to you. Then again, this is one of the more strange hits of the '70s — soft-pop hooks frolicking among waves of marimba and synthesizers that could have been plucked from a classic prog epic. “ The eastern moon looks ready for a wet kiss ,” Blackman croons, “ to make the tide rise again .” It’s a lunar make-out session, baby. (Reed)

37. "Same Old Lang Syne," Dan Fogelberg (1981)

“Same Old Lang Syne” is a masterclass in economic storytelling, and its tragedy is in the things both protagonists leave unsaid. Dan Fogelberg weaves a devastating tale of two former lovers who run into each other at a grocery store on Christmas Eve and spend the rest of the night catching up and reminiscing. Their circumstances have changed — he’s a disillusioned professional musician, she’s stuck in an unhappy marriage — but their love for each other is still palpable if only they could overcome their fears and say it out loud. They don’t, of course, and when Fogelberg bids his high-school flame adieu, he’s left with only his bittersweet memories and gnawing sense of unfulfillment to keep him warm on that snowy (and later rainy) December night. (Rolli)

36. "Eye in the Sky," the Alan Parsons Project (1982)

Few songs strike a chord with both prog nerds and soft-rock enthusiasts, but the Alan Parsons Project's “Eye in the Sky” belongs to that exclusive club. The arrangement is all smooth contours and pillowy textures: By the time Eric Woolfson reaches the chorus, shyly emoting about romantic deception over a bed of Wurlitzer keys and palm-muted riffs, the effect is like falling slow motion down a waterfall onto a memory foam mattress. But there’s artfulness here, too, from Ian Bairnson’s seductive guitar solo to the titular phrase conjuring some kind of god-like omniscience. (Reed)

35. "Somebody's Baby," Jackson Browne (1982)

Jackson Browne 's highest-charting single, and his last Top 10 hit, was originally tucked away on the soundtrack for the 1982 teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High . That placed Browne, one of the most earnest of singer-songwriters, firmly out of his element. "It was not typical of what Jackson writes at all, that song," co-composer Danny Kortchmar told Songfacts in 2013. "But because it was for this movie, he changed his general approach and came up with this fantastic song." Still unsure of how it would fit in, Browne refused to place "Somebody's Baby" on his next proper album – something he'd later come to regret . Lawyers in Love broke a string of consecutive multiplatinum releases dating back to 1976. (DeRiso)

34. "Still the One," Orleans (1976)

Part of yacht rock’s charm is being many things but only to a small degree. Songs can be jazzy, but not experimental. Brass sections are great but don’t get too funky. And the songs should rock, but not rock . In that mold comes Orleans’ 1976 hit “Still the One.” On top of a chugging groove, frontman John Hall sings about a romance that continues to stand the test of time. This love isn’t the white-hot flame that leaves passionate lovers burned – more like a soft, medium-level heat that keeps things comfortably warm. The tune is inoffensive, catchy and fun, aka yacht-rock gold. (Irwin)

33. "New Frontier," Donald Fagen (1982)

In which an awkward young man attempts to spark a Cold War-era fling — then, hopefully, a longer, post-apocalyptic relationship — via bomb shelter bunker, chatting up a “big blond” with starlet looks and a soft spot for Dave Brubeck. Few songwriters could pull off a lyrical concept so specific, and almost no one but Donald Fagen could render it catchy. “New Frontier,” a signature solo cut from the Steely Dan maestro, builds the sleek jazz-funk of Gaucho into a more digital-sounding landscape, with Fagen stacking precise vocal harmonies over synth buzz and bent-note guitar leads. (Reed)

32. "Sail On, Sailor," the Beach Boys (1973)

The Beach Boys were reworking a new album when Van Dyke Parks handed them this updated version of an unfinished Brian Wilson song. All that was left was to hand the mic over to Blondie Chaplin for his greatest-ever Beach Boys moment. They released "Sail On, Sailor" twice, however, and this yearning groover somehow barely cracked the Top 50. Chaplin was soon out of the band, too. It's a shame. "Sail On, Sailor" remains the best example of how the Beach Boys' elemental style might have kept growing. Instead, Chaplin went on to collaborate with the Band , Gene Clark of the  Byrds  and the Rolling Stones – while the Beach Boys settled into a lengthy tenure as a jukebox band. (DeRiso)

31. "Time Passages," Al Stewart (1978)

Al Stewart followed up the first hit single of his decade-long career – 1976's "Year of the Cat" – with a more streamlined take two years later. "Time Passages" bears a similar structure to the earlier track, including a Phil Kenzie sax solo and production by Alan Parsons. While both songs' respective album and single versions coincidentally run the same time, the 1978 hit's narrative wasn't as convoluted and fit more squarely into pop radio playlists. "Time Passages" became Stewart's highest-charting single, reaching No. 7 – while "Year of the Cat" had stalled at No. 8. (Michael Gallucci)

30. "I Go Crazy," Paul Davis (1977)

Paul Davis looked like he belonged in the Allman Brothers Band , but his soft, soulful voice took him in a different direction. The slow-burning nature of his breakthrough single "I Go Crazy" was reflected in its chart performance: For years the song held the record for the most weeks spent on the chart, peaking at No. 7 during its 40-week run. Davis, who died in 2008, took five more songs into the Top 40 after 1977, but "I Go Crazy" is his masterpiece – a wistful and melancholic look back at lost love backed by spare, brokenhearted verses. (Gallucci)

29. "Biggest Part of Me," Ambrosia (1980)

Songwriter David Pack taped the original demo of this song on a reel-to-reel when everyone else was running late, finishing just in time: "I was waiting for my family to get in the car so I could go to a Fourth of July celebration in Malibu," he told the Tennessean in 2014. "I turned off my machine [and] heard the car horn honking for me." Still, Pack was worried that the hastily written first verse – which rhymed " arisin ,'" " horizon " and " realizin '" – might come off a little corny. So he followed the time-honored yacht-rock tradition of calling in Michael McDonald to sing heartfelt background vocals. Result: a Top 5 hit on both the pop and adult-contemporary charts. (DeRiso)

28. "Africa," Toto (1982)

Remove the cover versions, the nostalgia sheen and its overuse in TV and films, and you’re left with what makes “Africa” great: one of the best earworm choruses in music history. Never mind that the band is made up of white guys from Los Angeles who'd never visited the titular continent. Verses about Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti paint a picture so vivid that listeners are swept away. From the soaring vocals to the stirring synth line, every element of the song works perfectly. There’s a reason generations of music fans continue to proudly bless the rains. (Irwin)

27. "Hello It's Me," Todd Rundgren (1972)

“Hello It’s Me” is the first song Todd Rundgren ever wrote, recorded by his band Nazz and released in 1968. He quickened the tempo, spruced up the instrumentation and delivered a more urgent vocal for this 1972 solo rendition (which became a Top 5 U.S. hit), but the bones of the tune remain the same. “Hello It’s Me” is a wistful, bittersweet song about the dissolution of a relationship between two people who still very much love and respect each other a clear-eyed breakup ballad lacking the guile, cynicism and zaniness of Rundgren’s later work. “The reason those [early] songs succeeded was because of their derivative nature,” Rundgren told Guitar World in 2021. “They plugged so easily into audience expectations. They’re easily absorbed.” That may be so, but there’s still no denying the airtight hooks and melancholy beauty of “Hello It’s Me.” (Rolli)

26. "Smoke From a Distant Fire," the Sanford/Townsend Band (1977)

There are other artists who better define yacht rock - Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross - but few songs rival the Sanford/Townsend Band's "Smoke From a Distant Fire" as a more representative genre track. (It was a Top 10 hit in the summer of 1977. The duo never had another charting single.) From the vaguely swinging rhythm and roaring saxophone riff to the light percussion rolls and risk-free vocals (that nod heavily to Daryl Hall and John Oates' blue-eyed soul), "Smoke" may be the most definitive yacht rock song ever recorded. We may even go as far as to say it's ground zero. (Gallucci)

25. "Dream Weaver," Gary Wright (1975)

Unlike many other songs on our list, “Dream Weaver” lacks lush instrumentation. Aside from Gary Wright’s vocals and keyboard parts, the only added layer is the drumming of Jim Keltner. But while the track may not have guitars, bass or horns, it certainly has plenty of vibes. Inspired by the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda – which Wright was turned on to by George Harrison – “Dream Weaver” boasts a celestial aura that helped the song peak at No. 2 in 1976. (Irwin)

24. "Reminiscing," Little River Band (1978)

The third time was the charm with Little River Band 's highest-charting single in the U.S. Guitarist Graeham Goble wrote "Reminiscing" for singer Glenn Shorrock with a certain keyboardist in mind. Unfortunately, they weren't able to schedule a session with Peter Jones, who'd played an important role in Little River Band's first-ever charting U.S. single, 1976's "It's a Long Way There ." They tried it anyway but didn't care for the track. They tried again, with the same results. "The band was losing interest in the song," Goble later told Chuck Miller . "Just before the album was finished, Peter Jones came back into town, [and] the band and I had an argument because I wanted to give 'Reminiscing' a third chance." This time they nailed it. (DeRiso)

23. "Heart Hotels," Dan Fogelberg (1979)

Ironically enough, this song about debilitating loneliness arrived on an album in which Dan Fogelberg played almost all of the instruments himself. A key concession to the outside world became the most distinctive musical element on "Heart Hotels," as well-known saxophonist Tom Scott took a turn on the Lyricon – a pre-MIDI electronic wind instrument invented just a few years earlier. As for the meaning of sad songs like these, the late Fogelberg once said : "I feel experiences deeply, and I have an outlet, a place where I can translate those feelings. A lot of people go to psychoanalysts. I write songs." (DeRiso)

22. "Year of the Cat," Al Stewart (1976)

Just about every instrument imaginable can be heard in Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat." What begins with an elegant piano intro winds its way through a string section and a sultry sax solo, then to a passionate few moments with a Spanish acoustic guitar. The sax solo, often a hallmark of yacht-rock songs, was not Stewart's idea. Producer Alan Parsons suggested it at the last minute, and Stewart thought it was the "worst idea I'd ever heard. I said, 'Alan, there aren’t any saxophones in folk-rock. Folk-rock is about guitars. Sax is a jazz instrument,'" Stewart said in 2021 . Multiple lengthy instrumental segments bring the song to nearly seven minutes, yet each seems to blend into the next like a carefully arranged orchestra. (Rapp)

21. "How Long," Ace (1974)

How long does it take to top the charts? For the Paul Carrack-fronted Ace: 45 years . "I wrote the lyric on the bus going to my future mother-in-law's," he later told Gary James . "I wrote it on the back of that bus ticket. That's my excuse for there only being one verse." Ace released "How Long" in 1975, reaching No. 3, then Carrack moved on to stints with Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics . Finally, in 2020, "How Long" rose two spots higher, hitting No. 1 on Billboard's rock digital song sales chart after being featured in an Amazon Prime advertisement titled "Binge Cheat." (DeRiso)

20. "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," Looking Glass (1972)

Like "Summer Breeze" (found later in our list of Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs), Looking Glass' tale of an alluring barmaid in a busy harbor town pre-dates the classic yacht-rock era. Consider acts like Seals & Crofts and these one-hit wonders pioneers of the genre. Ironically, the effortless-sounding "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" was quite difficult to complete. "We recorded 'Brandy' two or three different times with various producers before we got it right," Looking Glass' principal songwriter Elliot Lurie told the Tennessean in 2016. The chart-topping results became so popular so fast, however, that Barry Manilow had to change the title of a new song he was working on to " Mandy ." (DeRiso)

19. "I Can't Tell You Why," Eagles (1979)

Timothy B. Schmit joined just in time to watch the  Eagles disintegrate. But things couldn't have started in a better place for the former Poco member. He arrived with the makings of his first showcase moment with the group, an unfinished scrap that would become the No. 8 hit "I Can't Tell You Why." For a moment, often-contentious band members rallied around the outsider. Don Henley and Glenn Frey both made key contributions, as Eagles completed the initial song on what would become 1979's The Long Run . Schmit felt like he had a reason to be optimistic. Instead, Eagles released the LP and then promptly split up. (DeRiso)

18. "Sentimental Lady," Bob Welch (1977)

Bob Welch  first recorded "Sentimental Lady" in 1972 as a member of Fleetwood Mac . Five years later, after separating from a band that had gone on to way bigger things , Welch revisited one of his best songs and got two former bandmates who appeared on the original version – Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie – to help out (new Mac member Lindsey Buckingham also makes an appearance). This is the better version, warmer and more inviting, and it reached the Top 10. (Gallucci)

17. "So Into You," Atlanta Rhythm Section (1976)

Atlanta Rhythm Section is often wrongly categorized as a Southern rock band, simply because of their roots in Doraville, Ga. Songs like the seductively layered "So Into You" illustrate how little they had in common with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd . As renowned Muscle Shoals sessions ace David Hood once said, they're more like the " Steely Dan of the South ." Unfortunately, time hasn't been kind to the group. Two of this best-charting single's writers have since died , while keyboardist Dean Daughtry retired in 2019 as Atlanta Rhythm Section's last constant member. (DeRiso)

16. "Dreams," Fleetwood Mac (1977)

Stevie Nicks was trying to channel the heartbreak she endured after separating from Lindsey Buckingham into a song, but couldn't concentrate among the bustle of Fleetwood Mac's sessions for Rumours . "I was kind of wandering around the studio," she later told Yahoo! , "looking for somewhere I could curl up with my Fender Rhodes and my lyrics and a little cassette tape recorder." That's when she ran into a studio assistant who led her to a quieter, previously unseen area at Sausalito's Record Plant. The circular space was surrounded by keyboards and recording equipment, with a half-moon bed in black-and-red velvet to one side. She settled in, completing "Dreams" in less than half an hour, but not before asking the helpful aide one pressing question: "I said, 'What is this?' And he said, 'This is Sly Stone 's studio.'" (DeRiso)

15. "Minute by Minute," the Doobie Brothers (1978)

Michael McDonald was so unsure of this album that he nervously previewed it for a friend. "I mean, all the tunes have merit, but I don't know if they hang together as a record," McDonald later told UCR. "He looked at me and he said, 'This is a piece of shit.'" Record buyers disagreed, making Minute by Minute the Doobie Brothers' first chart-topping multiplatinum release. Such was the mania surrounding this satiny-smooth LP that the No. 14 hit title track lost out on song-of-the-year honors at the Grammys to "What a Fool Believes" (found later in our list of Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs) by the Doobie Brothers. (DeRiso)

14. "Lonely Boy," Andrew Gold (1976)

Andrew Gold’s only Top 10 U.S. hit is a story of parental neglect and simmering resentment, but those pitch-black details are easy to miss when couched inside such a deliciously upbeat melody. Gold chronicles the childhood of the titular lonely boy over a propulsive, syncopated piano figure, detailing the betrayal he felt when his parents presented him with a sister two years his junior. When he turns 18, the lonely boy ships off to college and leaves his family behind, while his sister gets married and has a son of her own — oblivious to the fact that she’s repeating the mistakes of her parents. Gold insisted “Lonely Boy” wasn’t autobiographical, despite the details in the song matching up with his own life. In any case, you can’t help but wonder what kind of imagination produces such dark, compelling fiction. (Rolli)

13. "Baby Come Back," Player (1977)

Liverpool native Peter Beckett moved to the States, originally to join a forgotten act called Skyband. By the time he regrouped to found Player with American J.C. Crowley, Beckett's wife had returned to England. Turns out Crowley was going through a breakup, too, and the Beckett-sung "Baby Come Back" was born. "So it was a genuine song, a genuine lyric – and I think that comes across in the song," Beckett said in The Yacht Rock Book . "That's why it was so popular." The demo earned Player a hastily signed record deal, meaning Beckett and Crowley had to assemble a band even as "Baby Come Back" rose to No. 1. Their debut album was released before Player had ever appeared in concert. (DeRiso)

12. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight," England Dan & John Ford Coley (1976)

There aren't too many songs with choruses as big as the one England Dan & John Ford Coley pump into the key lines of their first Top 40 single. Getting there is half the fun: The conversational verses – " Hello, yeah, it's been a while / Not much, how 'bout you? / I'm not sure why I called / I guess I really just wanted to talk to you " – build into the superpowered come-on line " I'm not talking 'bout moving in ...  ." Their yacht-rock pedigree is strong: Dan Seals' older brother is Seals & Croft's Jim Seals. (Gallucci)

11. "Hey Nineteen," Steely Dan (1980)

At least on the surface, “Hey Nineteen” is one of Steely Dan’s least ambiguous songs: An over-the-hill guy makes one of history’s most cringe-worthy, creepiest pick-up attempts, reminiscing about his glory days in a fraternity and lamenting that his would-be companion doesn’t know who Aretha Franklin is. (The bridge is a bit tougher to crack. Is anyone sharing that “fine Colombian”?) But the words didn’t propel this Gaucho classic into Billboard's Top 10. Instead, that credit goes to the groove, anchored by Walter Becker ’s gently gliding bass guitar, Donald Fagen’s velvety electric piano and a chorus smoother than top-shelf Cuervo Gold. (Reed)

10. "Rich Girl," Daryl Hall & John Oates (1976)

It’s one of the most economical pop songs ever written: two A sections, two B sections (the second one extended), a fade-out vocal vamp. In and out. Wham, bam, boom. Perhaps that's why it’s easy to savor “Rich Girl” 12 times in a row during your morning commute, why hearing it just once on the radio is almost maddening. This blue-eyed-soul single, the duo’s first No. 1 hit, lashes out at a supposedly entitled heir to a fast-food chain. (The original lyric was the less-catchy “rich guy ”; that one change may have earned them millions.) But there’s nothing bitter about that groove, built on Hall’s electric piano stabs and staccato vocal hook. (Reed)

9. "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," Elvin Bishop (1975)

Elvin Bishop made his biggest pop-chart splash with "Fooled Around and Fell In Love," permanently changing the first line of his bio from a  former member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band to a solo star in his own right. There was only one problem: "The natural assumption was that it was Elvin Bishop who was singing,” singer  Mickey Thomas told the Tahoe Daily Tribune in 2007. Thomas later found even greater chart success with Starship alongside Donny Baldwin, who also played drums on Bishop's breakthrough single. "A lot of peers found out about me through that, and ultimately I did get credit for it," Thomas added. "It opened a lot of doors for me." (DeRiso)

8. "Baker Street," Gerry Rafferty (1978)

Gerry Rafferty already had a taste of success when his band Stealers Wheel hit the Top 10 with the Dylanesque "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1973. His first solo album after the group's split, City to City , made it to No. 1 in 1978, thanks in great part to its hit single "Baker Street" (which spent six frustrating weeks at No. 2). The iconic saxophone riff by Raphael Ravenscroft gets much of the attention, but this single triumphs on many other levels. For six, mood-setting minutes Rafferty winds his way down "Baker Street" with a hopefulness rooted in eternal restlessness. (Gallucci)

7. "Dirty Work," Steely Dan (1972)

In just about three minutes, Steely Dan tells a soap-opera tale of an affair between a married woman and a man who is well aware he's being played but is too hopelessly hooked to end things. " When you need a bit of lovin' 'cause your man is out of town / That's the time you get me runnin' and you know I'll be around ," singer David Palmer sings in a surprisingly delicate tenor. A saxophone and flugelhorn part weeps underneath his lines. By the time the song is over, we can't help but feel sorry for the narrator who is, ostensibly, just as much part of the problem as he could be the solution. Not all yacht rock songs have happy endings. (Rapp)

6. "Ride Like the Wind," Christopher Cross (1979)

“Ride Like the Wind” is ostensibly a song about a tough-as-nails outlaw racing for the border of Mexico under cover of night, but there’s nothing remotely dangerous about Christopher Cross’ lithe tenor or the peppy piano riffs and horns propelling the tune. Those contradictions aren’t a detriment. This is cinematic, high-gloss pop-rock at its finest, bursting at the seams with hooks and elevated by Michael McDonald’s silky backing vocals. Cross nods to his Texas roots with a fiery guitar solo, blending hard rock and pop in a way that countless artists would replicate in the next decade. (Rolli)

5. "Summer Breeze," Seals & Crofts (1972)

Jim Seals and Dash Crofts were childhood friends in Texas, but the mellow grandeur of "Summer Breeze" makes it clear that they always belonged in '70s-era Southern California. "We operate on a different level," Seals once said , sounding like nothing if not a Laurel Canyon native. "We try to create images, impressions and trains of thought in the minds of our listeners." This song's fluttering curtains, welcoming domesticity and sweet jasmine certainly meet that standard. For some reason, however, they released this gem in August 1972 – as the season faded into fall. Perhaps that's why "Summer Breeze" somehow never got past No. 6 on the pop chart. (DeRiso)

4. "Lowdown," Boz Scaggs (1976)

As you throw on your shades and rev the motor, the only thing hotter than the afternoon sun is David Hungate’s sweet slap-bass blasting from the tape deck. “This is the good life,” you say to no one in particular, casually tipping your baseball cap to the bikini-clad crew on the boat zooming by. Then you press “play” again. What else but Boz Scaggs ’ silky “Lowdown” could soundtrack such a moment in paradise? Everything about this tune, which cruised to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, is equally idyllic: Jeff Porcaro’s metronomic hi-hat pattern, David Paich’s jazzy keyboard vamp, the cool-guy croon of Scaggs — flexing about gossip and “schoolboy game.” You crack open another cold one — why not? And, well, you press play once more. (Reed)

3. "Lido Shuffle," Boz Scaggs (1976)

Scaggs' storied career began as a sideman with Steve Miller  and already included a scorching duet with Duane Allman . Co-writer David Paich would earn Grammy-winning stardom with songs like "Africa." Yet they resorted to theft when it came to this No. 11 smash. Well, in a manner of speaking: "'Lido' was a song that I'd been banging around, and I kind of stole – well, I didn't steal anything. I just took the idea of the shuffle," Scaggs told Songfacts in 2013. "There was a song that Fats Domino did called 'The Fat Man ' that had a kind of driving shuffle beat that I used to play on the piano, and I just started kind of singing along with it. Then I showed it to Paich, and he helped me fill it out." Then Paich took this track's bassist and drummer with him to form Toto. (DeRiso)

2. "Peg," Steely Dan (1977)

"Peg" is blessed with several yacht-rock hallmarks: a spot on Steely Dan's most Steely Dan-like album, Aja , an impeccable airtightness that falls somewhere between soft-pop and jazz and yacht rock's stalwart captain, Michael McDonald, at the helm. (He may be a mere backing singer here, but his one-note chorus chirps take the song to another level.) Like most Steely Dan tracks, this track's meaning is both cynical and impenetrable, and its legacy has only grown over the years – from hip-hop samples to faithful cover versions. (Gallucci)

1. "What a Fool Believes," the Doobie Brothers (1978)

Michael McDonald not only steered the Doobie Brothers in a new direction when he joined in 1975, but he also made them a commercial powerhouse with the 1978 album Minute by Minute . McDonald co-wrote "What a Fool Believes" – a No. 1 single; the album topped the chart, too – with Kenny Loggins and sang lead, effectively launching a genre in the process. The song's style was copied for the next couple of years (most shamelessly in Robbie Dupree's 1980 Top 10 "Steal Away"), and McDonald became the bearded face of yacht rock. (Gallucci)

Top 100 Classic Rock Artists

Gallery Credit: UCR Staff

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

Cast Away Your Worries with Smooth-Sailing Yacht Rock

Drop your anchor and relax with our yacht rock channels and shows.

It’s yacht rock season all year long at SiriusXM as we bring you your favorite smooth-sailing hits from the 1970s and ’80s. With channels like Yacht Rock Radio, Yacht Rock Deep Cuts, and Yacht Soul, plus exclusive shows like “Club Yacht Rock,” you’ll be instantly transported to turquoise seas and cool breezes.

Yacht Rock Channels on SiriusXM

Yacht rock radio.

Yacht Rock Radio has docked at satellite channel 17 for the 2024 summer season, playing artists like Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, and other titans of the genre. Plus, catch the brand-new weekly mix show “Club Yacht Rock.” It’s the kind of rock that doesn’t rock the boat!

Club Yacht Rock: Weekly Broadcast Schedule

An app-exclusive channel, Yacht Soul features nonstop soulful and funky (but still so, so smooth) R&B and soul from the late ’70s and early ’80s from artists like George Benson, Earth Wind & Fire, Lionel Richie, Bobby Caldwell, Quincy Jones, Kool & the Gang, Al Jarreau, and more.

Yacht Rock Deep Cuts

For the biggest yacht rock fans around, stream the Yacht Rock Deep Cuts channel — available exclusively on the SiriusXM app — for lesser-known (but still delightfully smooth) yacht rock songs.

What is yacht rock?

Yacht rock is more than just a musical style; it represents an era of laid-back sophistication and an easy-going lifestyle. While we may not all have a yacht, with yacht rock, we can still experience the vibes.

A genre of music that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, yacht rock is characterized by its smooth melodies and polished production popular among yacht-owning individuals during this era. The music often features lush arrangements and a clean, polished sound that is easy on the ears, with catchy lyrics and harmonious vocals. The overall feel is relaxed and laid-back, suitable for leisurely activities — like sailing on a yacht.

Yacht rock often incorporates elements of jazz and R&B. Saxophone solos and Fender Rhodes electric piano are common. The lyrics in yacht rock songs often explore themes of romance, introspection, and escapism. The tone is generally positive and reflective, matching the easy-going nature of the music.

Some of the most iconic yacht rock artists include Steely Dan, Toto, Michael McDonald (both solo and with The Doobie Brothers), Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, and Hall & Oates.

Today, yacht rock continues to be celebrated for its timeless appeal. Its smooth sounds continue to evoke a sense of nostalgia and relaxation, making it a beloved genre for many music enthusiasts.

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The 20 greatest yacht rock songs ever, ranked

27 July 2022, 17:50

By Tom Eames

We can picture it now: lounging on a swish boat as it bobs along the water, sipping cocktails and improving our tan. Oh, and it's the 1980s.

There's only one style of music that goes with this image: Yacht rock.

What is Yacht Rock?

Also known as the West Coast Sound or adult-oriented rock, it's a style of soft rock from between the late 1970s and early 1980s that featured elements of smooth soul, smooth jazz, R&B, funk, rock and disco.

• The 40 greatest disco songs ever, ranked
• The 10 greatest and smoothest ever sax solos, ranked

Although its name has been used in a negative way, to us it's an amazing genre that makes us feel like we're in an episode of Miami Vice wearing shoulder pads and massive sunglasses.

Here are the very best songs that could be placed in this genre:

Player - 'Baby Come Back'

Player - Baby Come Back

Not the reggae classic of the same name, this 1977 track was Player's biggest hit.

After Player disbanded, singer Peter Beckett joined Australia's Little River Band, and he also wrote 'Twist of Fate' for Olivia Newton-John and 'After All This Time' for Kenny Rogers.

Steely Dan - 'FM'

It's tough just choosing one Steely Dan song for this list, but we've gone for this banger.

Used as the theme tune for the 1978 movie of the same name, the song is jazz-rock track, though its lyrics took a disapproving look at the genre as a whole, which was in total contrast to the film's celebration of it. Still, sounds great guys!

Bobby Goldsboro - 'Summer (The First Time)'

Bobby Goldsboro - Summer (The First Time)

A bit of a questionable subject matter, this ballad was about a 17-year-old boy’s first sexual experience with a 31-year-old woman at the beach.

But using a repeating piano riff, 12-string guitar, and an orchestral string arrangement, this song just screams yacht rock and all that is great about it.

Kenny Loggins - 'Heart to Heart'

Kenny Loggins - Heart To Heart (Official Music Video)

If Michael McDonald is the king of yacht rock, then Kenny Loggins is his trusted advisor and heir to the throne.

This track was co-written with Michael, and also features him on backing vocals. The song is about how most relationships do not stand the test of time, yet some are able to do so.

Airplay - 'Nothing You Can Do About It'

Nothin' You Can Do About It

You might not remember US band Airplay, but they did have their moment on the yacht.

Consisting of David Foster (who also co-wrote the Kenny Loggins song above), Jay Graydon and the brilliantly-named Tommy Funderburk, this tune was a cover of a Manhattan Transfer song, and was a minor hit in 1981.

Boz Scaggs - 'Lowdown'

Boz Scaggs - Lowdown (Official Audio)

We've moved slightly into smooth jazz territory with this track, which is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

The song was co-written by David Paich, who would go on to form Toto along with the song's keyboardist David Paich, session bassist David Hungate, and drummer Jeff Porcaro.

Steve Winwood - 'Valerie'

Steve Winwood - Valerie (Official Video)

This song is probably as far as you can get into pop rock without totally leaving the yacht rock dock.

Legendary singer-songwriter Winwood recorded this gong about a man reminiscing about a lost love he hopes to find again someday.

Eric Prydz later sampled it in 2004 for the house number one track ‘Call on Me’, and presented it to Winwood, who was so impressed he re-recorded the vocals to better fit the track.

Toto - 'Rosanna'

Toto - Rosanna (Official HD Video)

We almost picked 'Africa' , but we reckon this tune just about pips it in the yacht rock game.

Written by David Paich, he has said that the song is based on numerous girls he had known.

As a joke, the band members initially played along with the common assumption that the song was based on actress Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro at the time and coincidentally had the same name.

Chicago - 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry'

Chicago - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (Official Music Video)

Chicago began moving away from their horn-driven soft rock sound with their early 1980s output, including this synthesizer-filled power ballad.

• The 10 greatest Chicago songs, ranked

The album version segued into a more traditional Chicago upbeat track titled ‘Get Away’, but most radio stations at the time opted to fade out the song before it kicked in. Three members of Toto played on the track. Those guys are yacht rock kings!

Michael Jackson - 'Human Nature'

Michael Jackson - Human Nature (Audio)

A few non-rock artists almost made this list ( George Michael 's 'Careless Whisper' and Spandau Ballet 's 'True' are almost examples, but not quite), yet a big chunk of Thriller heavily relied on the yacht rock sound.

Michael Jackson proved just how popular the genre could get with several songs on the album, but 'Human Nature' is the finest example.

The Doobie Brothers - 'What a Fool Believes'

The Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes (Official Music Video)

Possibly THE ultimate yacht rock song on the rock end of the spectrum, and it's that man Michael McDonald.

Written by McDonald and Kenny Loggins, this was one of the few non-disco hits in America in the first eight months of 1979.

The song tells the story of a man who is reunited with an old love interest and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her before discovering that one never really existed.

Michael Jackson once claimed he contributed at least one backing track to the original recording, but was not credited for having done so. This was later denied by the band.

Christopher Cross - 'Sailing'

Christopher Cross - Sailing (Official Audio)

We're not putting this in here just because it's called 'Sailing', it's also one of the ultimate examples of the genre.

Christopher Cross reached number one in the US in 1980, and VH1 later named it the most "softsational soft rock" song of all time.

Don Henley - 'The Boys of Summer'

The Boys Of Summer DON HENLEY(1984) OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Mike Campbell wrote the music to this track while working on Tom Petty’s Southern Accents album, but later gave it to Eagles singer Don Henley, who wrote the lyrics.

The song is about the passing of youth and entering middle age, and of a past relationship. It was covered twice in the early 2000s: as a trance track by DJ Sammy in 2002, and as a pop punk hit by The Ataris in 2003.

England Dan and John Cord Foley - 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight'

England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love To See You Tonight.avi

A big hit for this duo in 1976, it showcases the very best of the sock rock/AOR/yacht rock sound that the 1970s could offer.

Dan Seals is the younger brother of Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts fame. Which leads to...

Seals & Crofts - 'Summer Breeze'

Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft #1 Hit(1972)

Before The Isley Brothers recorded a slick cover, 'Summer Breeze' was an irresistible folk pop song by Seals & Crofts.

While mostly a folk song, its summer vibes and gorgeous melody make for a perfect yacht rock number.

Christopher Cross - 'Ride Like the Wind'

Ride Like The Wind Promo Video 1980 Christopher Cross

If Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins are in charge of the yacht rock ship, then Christopher Cross has to be captain, right? Cabin boy? Something anyway.

The singer was arguably the biggest success story of the relatively short-lived yacht rock era, and this one still sounds incredible.

Eagles - 'I Can't Tell You Why'

The eagles - I can't tell you why (AUDIO VINYL)

Many Eagles tunes could be classed as yacht rock, but we reckon their finest example comes from this track from their The Long Run album in 1979.

Don Henley described the song as "straight Al Green", and that Glenn Frey, an R&B fan, was responsible for the R&B feel of the song. Frey said to co-writer Timothy B Schmit: "You could sing like Smokey Robinson . Let’s not do a Richie Furay, Poco-sounding song. Let’s do an R&B song."

Gerry Rafferty - 'Baker Street'

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street (Official Video)

Gerry Rafferty probably didn't realise he was creating one of the greatest yacht rock songs of all time when he wrote this, but boy did he.

• The Story of... 'Baker Street'

With the right blend of rock and pop and the use of the iconic saxophone solo, you can't not call this yacht rock at its finest.

Michael McDonald - 'Sweet Freedom'

Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom (1986)

If you wanted to name the king of yacht rock, you'd have to pick Michael McDonald . He could sing the phone book and it would sound silky smooth.

Possibly his greatest solo tune, it was used in the movie  Running Scared , and its music video featured actors Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines.

Hall & Oates - 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)'

Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (Official Video)

This duo knew how to make catchy hit after catchy hit. This R&B-tinged pop tune was co-written with Sara Allen (also the influence for their song 'Sara Smile').

• Hall and Oates' 10 best songs, ranked

John Oates has said that the song is actually about the music business. "That song is really about not being pushed around by big labels, managers, and agents and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively."

Not only was the song sampled in De La Soul's 'Say No Go' and Simply Red 's 'Home', but Michael Jackson also admitted that he lifted the bass line for 'Billie Jean'!

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Subset of Soft Rock distinguished by nautical song themes and album art. Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and Toto were the most significant practitioners, with Cross's Sailing being the signature expression of the genre. Further details available here . See also 70's , 80's , Wealth .

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101 Awesome Boat Puns And Yacht Captions For Instagram 2024

Looking for the best boat puns and yacht captions to spice up your Instagram?

If you’re looking to add a splash of nautical fun and humor to your Instagram posts, you’ve come to the right port (get it, port!?). Whether you’re an avid boater, a weekend cruiser, or simply love the allure of the open waters, boat puns are the perfect way to navigate your captions with wit and charm.

Adam is a big fan of a boat pun, so I’ve heard my fair share over the years (and would happily never hear them again!) But they are a fun way to bring some humour into your feed. They are short and snappy, and perfect for catching attention.

In this maritime-themed blog post, we’ve meticulously gathered the most buoyant and creative boat puns to elevate your social media game and keep your followers entertained. We’ve also included attention-grabbing emojis and hashtags too, so if it’s copy and paste you’re looking for then we’ve delivered!

From clever wordplay to puns that are sure to make waves of laughter, these boat puns will have your captions sailing smoothly through the vast ocean of Instagram feeds.

So, hoist the anchor, raise the sails, and prepare to dive into a treasure trove of boat puns that’ll leave you and your audience in stitches.

Whether you’re sharing your latest boating adventure, a relaxing day on the water, or a captivating sunset cruise, these puns will make sure your Instagram captions stay afloat and set you apart from the rest of the fleet.

Let’s navigate the waters of hilarity and embark on a pun-tastic journey filled with laughter, smiles, and all the joys that come with sailing into the realm of boat puns for Instagram. Get ready to “sea” what we did there and dive right in! Anchors aweigh! 🌊⛵️

Table Of Contents

• The Best Boat Puns For Instagram

Yacht Captions For Instagram

Boat Puns For Instagram

• “Sailing into the sunset like… ⛵️🌅 #SeasTheDay”
• “Feeling boat-tiful and ready to set sail! 🚢💨 #AllAboard”
• “Knot your average day on the water! 🌊⚓️ #BoatLife”
• “I’m on a boat, and it’s going fast! 🚤💨 #Cruisin'”
• “Anchors aweigh, adventure awaits! ⚓️🌊 #SailAway”
• “Life is better on the water 💙🌊 #BoatingAdventures”

• “Ready to make some waves! 🌊🌊 #BoatVibes”
• “Seas the moment and sail away! ⛵️🌅 #BoatTime”
• “Lost at sea, but loving it! 🌊🧭 #NavigatingLife”
• “Catching some rays and making memories 🌞⚓️ #BoatDays”
• “I’m steering my way to a great day! 🚤💪 #CaptainLife”
• “Beach please, I’m on a boat! 🏖️⛵️ #WaterLover”
• “The only way to travel: by boat! 🌊✨ #OnBoard”
• “Saltwater in my hair, don’t care! 🌊💁‍♀️ #MermaidVibes”
• “Living the yacht life! 🛥️💎 #LuxuryBoating”

• “Smooth sailing and good vibes only! ⛵️😎 #SmoothSailing”
• “Nothing but blue skies and open seas ahead! 🌊🔆 #OceanBound”
• “Boat hair, don’t care! 🚤💨 #WindInMyHair”
• “Cruising through life with a smile! 😊⚓️ #BoatLifeBestLife”
• “I’m a buoy on the water, floating through life! 🌊🏝️ #BuoyantFeels”
• “Let the sea set you free! 🌊✨ #SeaEscape”
• “Tacking my way through the week like… ⛵️💪 #MidWeekSail”
• “Riding the waves and feeling alive! 🌊🌞 #AliveAndSailing”
• “I’m in a nautical state of mind! 🚢🧠 #NauticalVibes”
• “The boat life is the good life! 🚤💙 #BoatEnthusiast”

• “When in doubt, sail it out! ⛵️🙌 #SailAwayWithMe”
• “I’m knot kidding, I love boating! ⚓️❤️ #KnotKidding”
• “Sea-ze the day and ride the waves! 🌊🌊 #BeachBound”
• “There’s nothing like the feeling of wind in your sails! ⛵️💨 #WindPower”
• “I’ve got that sea breeze and boat hair look! 🌊💁‍♂️ #BoatLifeHair”
• “Living on island time, all the time! 🏝️🕒 #IslandVibes”
• “Leaving my worries on the shore and sailing away! 🚤🌅 #ByeByeWorries”
• “A little vitamin sea goes a long way! 🌊🌞 #VitaminSea”
• “Sailin’ and smilin’ all day long! ⛵️😄 #SailingLife”
• “Life is better on a boat, hands down! 🙌⚓️ #BetterOnABoat”

• “Boat life is the best life, no contest! 🚤💙 #BoatLove”
• “When in doubt, hoist the sails and cruise! ⛵️💨 #SailorSpirit”
• “Seas the day, because why not? 🌊🤷‍♀️ #YachtLife”
• “Keep calm and sail on! ⛵️✌️ #KeepCalmAndSail”
• “Is it just me, or does life look better from a boat? 🚤👀 #BoatPerspective”
• “My happy place? Right here on this boat! 🌊🏝️ #HappyPlace”
• “Cruisin’ into the weekend like… 🚢🎉 #WeekendVibes”
• “I’m shore-ly having a boatload of fun! ⚓️😄 #BoatloadOfFun”

• “Ocean breeze and salty seas, that’s the life for me! 🌊💨 #SaltyLife”
• “A day without boating is like a day without sunshine! ☀️⛵️ #SunshineAndBoats”
• “Boat life: where every day is an adventure! 🚤🌊 #AdventureAwaits”
• “Cruisin’ through life with a smile on my face! 😄⚓️ #CruisinLife”
• “Set sail for happiness and good times! ⛵️🌈 #SetSail”
• “I’m on island time, and the living is easy! 🏝️🌞 #IslandTimeLife”
• “Sun, sea, and boats – the perfect trifecta! 🌞🌊⚓️ #BoatTribe”

• “Living the yacht life and feeling so grand! 🛥️💫 #YachtGoals”
• “Onboard and sailing towards paradise! 🌊⚓ #LuxuryYachtLife”
• “A little yacht time is good for the soul! ⛵️💙 #YachtEscape”
• “Yachting through crystal-clear waters like a boss! 💎🌊 #YachtBoss”
• “Life is yacht a dream when you’re on the water! 🚤✨ #YachtDreams”
• “Anchored in serenity and loving every moment! ⚓️😌 #YachtSerenity”
• “Sailing into the sunset with my yacht squad! 🌅⛵️ #YachtSquadGoals”
• “All aboard the happiness cruise! 🚢😄 #YachtLifeHappyLife”
• “Yacht life: where every day feels like a celebration! 🎉🥂 #YachtCelebration”

• “Chasing sunsets and yachting adventures! 🌇⛵️ #YachtVibes”
• “Salty air, yacht hair, and not a single care! 🌊💁‍♀️ #YachtHairDontCare”
• “Yachting like it’s nobody’s business! 🛥️💼 #YachtBusiness”
• “Anchors aweigh, ready for a yachting getaway! ⚓️🌴 #YachtGetaway”
• “Life is better on a yacht, no arguments! 🌞🚤 #YachtLifeBestLife”
• “Floating through life in yacht mode! 🏝️⛵️ #YachtMode”
• “Just yacht-ing around and soaking up the views! 🌊👀 #YachtViews”
• “Yachting adventures and endless horizons! 🌅⛵️ #EndlessHorizons”
• “When in doubt, yacht it out! 🚤💨 #YachtLifeMotto”
• “Sun-kissed and yacht blissed! 🌞🛥️ #YachtBliss”

• “Yacht hair, don’t care, it’s all about the experience! 🌊💆‍♂️ #YachtExperience”
• “Champagne on deck, living life in excess! 🥂🍾 #YachtExtravaganza”
• “Yacht adventures are my kind of therapy! 🌊🌴 #YachtTherapy”
• “Sailing into the future, one yacht day at a time! ⛵️🚀 #YachtFuture”
• “On the deck of dreams, living my best yacht life! 💭🛥️ #BestYachtLife”
• “Island hopping and yacht shopping! 🏝️🛍️ #YachtShopping”
• “A yacht on the water is a dream come true! 🌊💙 #DreamYacht”
• “Yachting like royalty on these open seas! 👑⛵️ #YachtRoyalty”
• “A little yacht time never hurt nobody! ⏰🚤 #YachtTime”
• “Sail away with me into the great unknown! ⛵️🌌 #SailAwayWithMe”
• “Yacht life is pure bliss, can’t deny this! 😌🛥️ #YachtBliss”
• “Yachting is the art of finding joy in the journey! 🎨⚓️ #ArtOfYachting”
• “Sunsets and yachts, a perfect match made in heaven! 🌇⛵️ #YachtHeaven”

• “Life is better on a yacht, hands down! 🙌🌊 #BetterOnAYacht”
• “Yachting through life, one wave at a time! 🌊⏳ #YachtLifeJourney”
• “Cruising on a yacht, living life with no regrets! 🚢💫 #YachtRegrets”
• “Yacht vibes and good times, always! 🎉🛥️ #YachtGoodTimes”
• “Feeling like a captain of my destiny on this yacht adventure! 🧭⚓️ #YachtDestiny”
• “Sailing towards new horizons and endless possibilities! ⛵️🌅 #NewHorizonsAhead”
• “Yachting through life with a smile on my face! 😄⚓️ #YachtLifeSmiles”
• “Yachting with my crew, a bond that’s true! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦⛵️ #YachtCrewLove”

• “Sailing into happiness, one yacht day at a time! 🌞🚤 #YachtHappiness”
• “Yacht life is all about sailing free! 🌊💫 #SailingFree”
• “Yacht life, where every day is a work of art! 🎨🛥️ #YachtArt”
• “Smooth sailing and yacht smiles, that’s how we roll! ⛵️😊 #YachtSmiles”
• “Yacht life: the ultimate luxury escape! 🏝️🚢 #LuxuryYachtEscape”
• “I’m yachtally obsessed with this view! 😍🌊 #YachtObsessed”
• “Life is a journey, and yachting makes it even better! ⚓️🌊 #YachtJourney”
• “Yachting: where dreams set sail and become reality! 🌌⛵️ #YachtReality”
• “Yachting through life, where every wave brings new possibilities! 🌊⚓️ #YachtLifeUncharted”

Conclusion: Awesome Boat Puns And Yacht Captions For Instagram

We’ve reached the shore of our boat pun adventure, and what a delightful journey it has been. From setting sail on a sea of laughter to exploring uncharted waters of creativity, these boat puns for Instagram have proven to be the perfect navigational tools for crafting caption magic.

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a landlubber dreaming of the ocean, these puns will infuse your posts with that special “aquatic” charm that keeps followers coming back for more.

So, as you share your boating adventures, dockside memories, or serene sunsets on the horizon, use these boat puns to amplify the experience and set your captions sailing on a sea of entertainment. Remember, life is always more “shipshape” with a splash of humor!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this buoyant voyage of boat puns for Instagram. Keep your creativity afloat, and may your journey through the vast ocean of social media be filled with laughter, joy, and endless waves of appreciation.

Thank goodness that’s over, because I’m done with writing like a crazy person! Fair winds and smooth sailing, dear sailors! ⛵️🌊

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100 Funny Quotes About Boats: Set Sail with Laughter!

Get ready to set sail on a l aughter-filled adventure with our collection of 100 funny quotes about boats . Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or prefer to stay on dry land, these humorous quips and witty one-liners are sure to make you chuckle . From clever puns about anchors to hilarious observations about life on the water, this list has something for everyone. So grab your life jacket, cast off your worries, and get ready to be amused by these boat-themed jokes and jests.

100 Funny Quotes About Boats

• “Boating with friends is always knot-ty fun!”
• “The sea has a lot of depth, but our puns have more!”
• “Sailors know how to tell knot-ty jokes.”
• “I don’t always go boating, but when I do, it’s pun-believable.”
• “I got a ticket for not wearing a life jacket. Turns out it was buoyancy.”
• “Why did the boat go to the bank? To get a loan!”
• “A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into… and puns, lots of puns.”
• “Why do boaters make terrible comedians? Their jokes are all a-float!”
• “You know what they say about boating with friends? The more, the Mariner!”
• “Boating may be expensive, but puns are shore-cheap!”
• “Why do boats have trouble keeping up with jokes? Because they have slow-pokes!”
• “I’m not afraid of deep water, just shallow puns.”
• “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade. If the sea hands you waves, make puns!”
• “A good pun is like a life jacket – it keeps you afloat.”
• “Why don’t boats go to the gym? They already have plenty of anchor-age!”
• “Why did the sailor join a gym? To get his sea-legs!”
• “Boat puns are just like boat rides – they’re always smooth sailing!”
• “Why do sailors hate online shopping? They prefer a sea-mall!”
• “I’m not saying boating puns are the best, but they really float my boat!”
• “Boat puns are like fish – they’re always better fresh!”
• “Fishing is like yoga, except instead of posing, you’re hoping the fish don’t notice you.”
• “I’m convinced that the only reason people go fishing is to brag about the size of their catch.”
• “Fishing: the art of patience and the sport of spending a lot of money on equipment.”
• “Why go to therapy when you can go fishing and catch your own stress relief?”
• “Some people wait their whole lives to catch the big one. Others just go to the grocery store.”
• “Fishing: the perfect excuse to sit and do nothing for hours without feeling guilty.”
• “Fishing may not solve all your problems, but it’s a great way to forget them for a while.”
• “The best time to go fishing is when you can’t go to work.”
• “Fishing is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get… but you’re always hoping for something sweet.”
• “Fishing isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life.”
• “If at first you don’t succeed, switch to a different lure and try again.”
• “Fishing: the ultimate test of patience, persistence, and waterproof clothing.”
• “The worst day fishing is still better than the best day working.”
• “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a fishing rod… and that’s pretty much the same thing.”
• “Fishing: the original mindfulness exercise.”
• “There’s no such thing as too much fishing… only not enough vacation days.”
• “Fishing is a sport where you can’t just throw money at the problem… but you can certainly try.”
• “Fishing: the only time it’s acceptable to talk about the one that got away.”
• “Some people dream of exotic vacations. Others dream of catching exotic fish.”
• “Fishing: the perfect way to bond with friends and family, as long as nobody mentions the one that got away.”
• “Life on a boat is like a never-ending vacation, except you have to do all the cooking and cleaning yourself.”
• “If you think life is a journey, try spending a week on a boat with a broken toilet.”
• “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being rocked to sleep by the gentle waves of the ocean – unless you’re prone to seasickness, that is.”
• “A day on a boat is worth a month on land, as long as you don’t count the times you have to untangle the fishing line.”
• “There’s no better way to get away from it all than to take your troubles out to sea and leave them there.”
• “Life is a journey, and on a boat, the journey is always more interesting than the destination.”
• “There’s something magical about watching the sun rise over the ocean – until you realize you forgot to pack sunscreen.”
• “A boat is like a floating home, with all the comforts of home and none of the privacy.”
• “If you want to test your relationship, spend a week on a boat together and see if you still want to be married by the end of it.”
• “Life on a boat is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get, but it’s always sweet.”
• “The ocean is a mysterious and unpredictable place, but that’s what makes life on a boat so exciting.”
• “There’s nothing quite like the freedom of being out on the open water, with nothing but the wind and the waves to guide you.”
• “Life on a boat is all about living in the moment and enjoying the simple things in life, like a good book and a cold beer.”
• “If you think life is tough, try living on a boat with a family of five and only one bathroom.”
• “A boat is like a time machine, taking you back to a simpler, more peaceful way of life.”
• “Life on a boat is all about making memories, whether they’re good, bad, or downright hilarious.”
• “The best part about life on a boat is that you can leave all your worries on shore and just focus on having fun.”
• “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being surrounded by nothing but endless blue ocean.”
• “Life on a boat is all about going with the flow, even when the flow is heading straight into a storm.”
• “The ocean is a vast and beautiful place, full of surprises and wonder – just like life on a boat.”
• “I’ve never met a sea I couldn’t steer, as long as I have my GPS and a cup of coffee.”
• “The best way to navigate a stormy sea? With a sense of humor and a sturdy ship.”
• “If you’re lost at sea, just remember: all roads lead to the horizon.”
• “Navigating the seas is like a game of chess – you have to stay one step ahead of the waves.”
• “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of wind in your sails, unless it’s the feeling of a well-timed joke.”
• “The sea is a cruel mistress, but a good laugh is the ultimate life preserver.”
• “Navigating the seas is a lot like life – sometimes you just have to go with the flow.”
• “When the going gets tough, the tough get a compass and a quip.”
• “If you’re not sure which direction to go, just follow the seagulls – they always know where the party’s at.”
• “The sea may be unpredictable, but a good sense of humor is always on course.”
• “The best way to navigate through rough waters? With a little bit of wit and a lot of determination.”
• “There’s no such thing as a perfect voyage, but a few good jokes can make any trip smoother.”
• “Navigating the seas requires a steady hand and a quick wit – but mostly a steady hand.”
• “The sea is full of surprises, but a good sense of humor can help you weather any storm.”
• “The only thing better than a good sailing adventure is a good joke to share with your crewmates.”
• “Navigating the seas is like solving a riddle – the key is to keep your sense of humor afloat.”
• “A good captain always has a joke up their sleeve – and a map in their hands.”
• “There’s nothing quite like a sunrise over the open sea, except maybe a perfectly timed pun.”
• “Navigating the seas is all about finding your sea legs and your funny bone.”
• “The best way to avoid a mutiny? Keep your crew laughing.”
• “A boat is like a marriage, it requires commitment and effort to keep it afloat.”
• “Boating is the perfect escape from the chaos of life on land.”
• “The wind may change direction, but a skilled sailor knows how to adjust the sails.”
• “There’s nothing more peaceful than the sound of the water lapping against the hull of your boat.”
• “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
• “Boating isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life.”
• “A day on the water is like hitting the reset button on your soul.”
• “The ocean is a vast and wondrous world, and boating is the key to unlocking its mysteries.”
• “On a boat, every problem is solvable with a little ingenuity and elbow grease.”
• “Boating isn’t about getting from point A to point B, it’s about the journey along the way.”
• “A bad day on a boat is still better than a good day on land.”
• “The only thing better than being on a boat is being on a boat with good friends.”
• “The sea is a vast and endless horizon, reminding us of the infinite possibilities of life.”
• “The world looks a little brighter from the deck of a boat.”
• “Boating is the perfect antidote to a stressful day at work.”
• “Sailing isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life.”
• “A true sailor knows that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.”
• “The best thing about a boat is that it can take you anywhere, as long as you’re willing to go.”
• “The sea is a great teacher, reminding us that we are small and the world is vast.”
• “Boating isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey, the people, and the memories made along the way.”

Tips On How To Use Funny Quotes About Boats

• Share them with your boating buddies – Boating is all about community, so why not spread the joy of funny boat quotes with your fellow sailors? Send them in a group chat or share them on social media for some boating-themed laughs.
• Use them as Instagram captions – If you’re an avid boater who loves to share your adventures on social media, use a funny quote about boats as your next Instagram caption. It’s a simple way to add some humor to your post and show off your love for all things nautical.
• Incorporate them into your boat decor – If you’re looking to spruce up your boat’s interior, consider adding a framed print or canvas with a funny boat quote. It’s a unique and playful way to add some personality to your vessel.
• Include them in your boating blog or newsletter – If you’re a boating enthusiast who loves to share tips and tricks with others, consider including some funny boat quotes in your next blog post or newsletter. It’s a fun way to keep your readers engaged and add some humor to your content.
• Use them as inspiration for your own humor – If you’re feeling creative, use funny boat quotes as inspiration for your own jokes and one-liners. Boating is full of humorous situations and observations, so channel your inner comedian and see what you come up with!

Written by Gabriel Cruz - Foodie, Animal Lover, Slang & Language Enthusiast

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• Nautical Sayings: Exploring the Fascinating World of Maritime Language

Ahoy there, fellow adventurers of the sea! Whether you're an experienced sailor or just someone fascinated by the world of nautical adventures, you've probably come across some intriguing and often perplexing maritime sayings. In this comprehensive article, we'll dive deep into the ocean of nautical sayings, yacht word origins, boating sayings, and the rich tapestry of nautical slang that has shaped the language of the high seas.

Setting Sail with Nautical Sayings

Ahoy, matey.

Our journey begins with the iconic greeting, "Ahoy, matey!" This classic nautical saying has been immortalized in countless pirate tales and seafaring adventures. But have you ever wondered about its origins and the fascinating history behind it?

The phrase "Ahoy, matey!" finds its roots in the 17th century when pirates and sailors needed a catchy and distinctive way to greet each other on the high seas. We'll explore how this phrase became a symbol of maritime camaraderie and adventure.

Charting the Course of Nautical Language 

Before we delve into specific nautical sayings, let's navigate through the history of maritime language. The sea has always been a source of inspiration for unique expressions, and understanding the evolution of this language is key to appreciating its richness.

Maritime language is a dynamic blend of influences from various cultures, including English, Dutch, and even French. We'll journey through time to uncover how these linguistic influences shaped the nautical lexicon we know today.

Knots and Nautical Expressions 

The maritime world is a treasure trove of fascinating expressions related to knots and ropes. From "tying the knot" to "left in the lurch," we'll unravel the meanings behind these captivating sayings.

Let's explore more nautical phrases related to knots, rigging, and seamanship. Each saying carries a unique history, often reflecting the practical challenges and traditions of sailors.

The Call of the Sea 

Beyond greetings and practical expressions, sailors had a language of their own to communicate effectively on the vast expanse of the ocean. We'll delve into the lesser-known but equally intriguing nautical phrases that were used for signaling, navigation, and coordination.

Discovering Yacht Word Origins

The yacht: a luxurious icon .

Yachts epitomize elegance and luxury on the water. But have you ever wondered where the term "yacht" itself comes from? Let's set sail on a journey through time to explore its origins.

The word "yacht" has a fascinating history that dates back to the early days of sailing. We'll trace its evolution from humble beginnings to the opulent vessels we associate with yachts today.

Yacht or Jacht: A Linguistic Odyssey 

Did you know that "yacht" is closely related to the Dutch word "jacht"? We'll uncover the linguistic connection between these two words and how it has influenced modern yacht culture.

The Dutch influence on yacht design and terminology is profound. We'll delve into how Dutch shipbuilders and explorers played a pivotal role in shaping the yacht industry.

The Golden Age of Yachting 

Yachting isn't just about boats; it's a cultural phenomenon with a rich history. During the 19th century, the "Golden Age of Yachting" saw a surge in yacht building and racing. We'll explore this period and its impact on yacht word origins.

Sailing Through Boating Sayings

Smooth sailing ahead.

When it comes to boating, the saying "smooth sailing" is music to a captain's ears. Join us as we explore the origin of this optimistic phrase and how it reflects the sailors' eternal quest for favorable winds.

"Smooth sailing" isn't just a saying; it embodies the aspirations and experiences of mariners throughout history. We'll recount stories of legendary voyages and the calm seas that inspired this expression.

Weathering the Storm 

Boating isn't always smooth sailing. Sometimes, sailors must "weather the storm." We'll examine the origin of this phrase and its enduring relevance to the maritime world.

Navigating storms at sea has always been a formidable challenge. We'll share tales of courage and resilience that shed light on the origins of this powerful metaphor.

Deciphering Nautical Slang

Aye, aye, captain .

Nautical slang is a language all its own, and "aye, aye, captain" is one of its most recognizable phrases. But what does it really mean, and why is it used so frequently on ships?

Read our top notch articles on topics such as sailing, sailing tips and destinations in our Magazine .

Check out our latest sailing content:

Swabbing the deck: nautical work lingo .

"Swabbing the deck" might sound like a chore, but it's also a nautical saying with a rich history. We'll uncover its origins and its role in the daily life of sailors.

Navigating Ship Sayings

Shipshape and bristol fashion .

When something is "shipshape and Bristol fashion," it's in excellent condition. Discover the intriguing story behind this phrase, which hails from the bustling port city of Bristol.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 

Sometimes, sailors find themselves "between the devil and the deep blue sea." Explore the origins of this saying and the predicaments it describes.

Exploring Boat Phrases

In the same boat .

We often say we're "in the same boat" when facing a common challenge. But where does this saying come from, and why do we use it to express solidarity?

Casting Adrift: Origins of "Adrift" 

Being "adrift" can have a figurative meaning beyond just being at sea. Discover the roots of this saying and how it found its way into everyday language.

Unraveling Nautical Expressions

By and large: a nautical measurement .

The phrase "by and large" has nautical origins tied to sail trimming. Join us as we explore the history of this saying and its transition to everyday language.

Three Sheets to the Wind: A Nautical Reference to Intoxication

Have you ever heard someone described as being "three sheets to the wind"? Learn about the nautical basis of this humorous expression.

Boating Phrases and Sailor Jargon

"know the ropes": mastering the art of sailing.

To "know the ropes" means to be skilled and knowledgeable. We'll sail through the history of this saying and its significance for sailors.

"The Whole Nine Yards": Nautical or Not?

Is "the whole nine yards" a nautical phrase? We'll unravel this linguistic mystery and see if it has nautical origins or not.

Sailing Expressions and Seafaring Terms

"batten down the hatches": preparing for a storm.

When sailors "batten down the hatches," they're preparing for a storm. Discover the practical origins of this vital nautical saying.

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea": A Nautical Dilemma 

We revisit the phrase "between the devil and the deep blue sea" to explore its deeper connotations in the context of seafaring.

Nautical Words and Phrases: A Sailor's Lexicon

Nautical sayings: the ultimate lexicon .

Summarizing our exploration, we'll compile a comprehensive list of some of the most intriguing nautical words and phrases that have left their mark on the English language.

As we sail back to the shore of this captivating journey through nautical sayings and maritime language, it's clear that the sea has not only inspired adventurers but also enriched our vocabulary with colorful expressions. From "ahoy, matey" to "the whole nine yards," each saying carries a piece of nautical history that continues to resonate with us today.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of charter boats and head to some of our favourite  sailing destinations.

I am ready to help you with booking a boat for your dream vacation. Contact me.

Denisa Kliner Nguyenová

Funny Boat Quotes

A boat is a hole in the water you throw money into.

I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.

I’m on a boat, I’m on a boat, everybody look at me ’cause I’m sailing on a boat.

A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way.

I’m not a pirate, I just have a lot of long-lost treasure.

I don’t have sea legs, I have sea arms!

Why did the boat go to the doctor? Because it had oar-itis.

Why don’t boats need therapy? Because they always stay afloat!

Being on a boat is like being in an alternate universe – your worries just sail away.

Boat owners have a whole different class of problems: they’re always in deep water!

I’m so buoyant, I can float even in the toughest situations.

The best way to test a relationship is to take a boat trip together.

A boat is just a floating haven for my thoughts and dreams.

I’m the captain of my own ship, and it’s sinking!

If you want to know how to sail a boat, just ask a friend with a boat!

Boating is a great way to relax and spend quality oar-time.

I’m not a sailor, but I still get a kick out of the wave jokes.

If I had a boat, I would name it ‘Knot Working.’

Why did the boat go to school? To get a little ‘buoy’ancy.

Boat owners always make waves wherever they go.

Funny Boat Quotes part 2

A boat is the perfect excuse to get away from it all – wave goodbye to your worries!

I used to think that boat owners were just ‘knot’ right in the head.

What did the ocean say to the sailboat? Nothing, it just waved.

I’m not a sailor, but I can definitely rock a boat.

Boats are like relationships – they require constant maintenance and can sometimes be a little rocky.

Why did the boat bring a ladder to the party? To get on board with the fun!

A boat is like a floating gym – I’m always getting my sea-legs workout!

Why did the boat sink? Because it didn’t have enough buoys in the water!

Boat owners have a way of ‘rowing’ with the punches.

I don’t always go sailing, but when I do, I make waves.

A boat is the ultimate freedom – you can sail wherever the wind takes you.

Boating is the perfect way to navigate the waters of life.

Why did the captain go to the doctor? He had cabin fever!

Boat owners have a deep love for the open sea – they’re always ‘anchored’ to it.

I don’t always talk about my boat, but when I do, it’s all about the ‘decks’ appeal.

Boat ownership is like a never-ending journey – you’re always swimming against the tide.

I don’t need a fancy boat, just a simple sail and a gentle breeze.

Why did the sailor bring a pencil and paper to the boat? To draw the anchor!

Life is like a boat – you have to navigate the storms and learn to ride the waves.

I’m not a sailor, but I can still raise a little sail in everyone’s heart.

Boat owners know the true meaning of ‘tide’-ous maintenance.

I’m on a permanent vacation – my boat is my getaway.

Why did the boat get a ticket? It was parked in a no-wake zone!

A boat is like a floating home – no matter where I go, I always have my sea-bed.

I may not have my sea legs, but I have my sea arms – I’m an expert at paddleboarding!

Boating is the only way to truly understand the power of the sea.

Why did the boat go to the bank? It wanted to deposit its ‘oar’-chestra of savings.

Life is like a boat ride – sometimes it’s smooth sailing, other times it’s a wild adventure!

Boating is my therapy – waves are the best stress relief.

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Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M. get the money, dollar dollar bill, y’all – Wu-Tang Clan Protect ya neck, ’cause

One of these days, Alice… POW! Right to the moon! To the moon, Alice! To the moon! I’ve got a

The heart is a thousand-stringed instrument that can only be tuned with love. – Hafiz When the soul sits in

Don’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree. A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer,

Dream big, work hard, make it happen. Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. – Martin Luther King Jr. Education is the most powerful weapon which

Wishing you a Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas filled with joy and love! May Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas light

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75 Best Boating Captions and Nautical Sayings for Your Next Boat Day

Boating days are the best days. Use these clever, funny, and cute boat captions and nautical sayings the next time you need some Instagram inspo!

Who doesn’t love spending time on a boat? Whether you are relaxing on a yacht, kayaking down a river or cruising on the bay, amazing photos are hard to miss. Spend time getting your swimsuits, sunscreen, and drinks ready for a boat day and not thinking of a catchy caption! We’ve gathered the best boating captions and nautical sayings to pair with photos of your boat snacks and perfect summer days. Keep scrolling for all the boat day vibes:

Best Boating Captions

From boating on a lake to spending time at sea, a day on the boat deserves to be shared with all your followers! Use these boating captions to make them jealous that you’re on a boat:

• Rule #1: don’t fall off the boat
• Certified boat-aholic
• I like my boat and maybe 3 people
• Feelin’ nauti
• I’d rather be on my boat
• I like talking boat stuff
• Time to get shipfaced
• It’s boat o’clock
• Rock out with your prop out!
• Good vibes on the high and low tides

RELATED: 65+ Best Lake Quotes and Lake Captions

• Sometimes I wonder if my boat is thinking about me too?
• BOAT: Bust Out Another Thousand
• My boat doesn’t run on thanks
• Wake & lake
• Living the boat life
• On cruise control
• Life is short, buy the boat
• Gone boating
• Be the bigger boat
• Ahoy, mateys!
• Things are going swell
• Take time to coast

Love your boat? Check out our 65 best beach captions.

Cute Boating Captions

If you’re lucky enough to own a boat (or know a friend who does), you’ll be having the best summer at sea! Capture all the fun on your Instagram with these cute boating captions:

• Powered by caffeine and boat fuel
• Sleep. Boat. Repeat.
• I’m the friend with the boat
• I don’t need therapy, I need to go boating
• Let’s do boat stuff
• Life is better on the boat
• Comin’ in hot
• Heat waves, sun rays and boat days
• On boat time
• You, me and the sea
• Getting salty
• Keepin’ it reel

RELATED: 80+ Best Sunrise Quotes & Captions for Instagram

• I love you a whole yacht
• Boat wife life
• Sorry, can’t. I’m boating.
• Let’s get nauti
• You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a boat and that’s pretty much the same thing
• Let’s sail away
• Ferry impressive
• Anchoring myself with a day on the boat
• Whatever floats your boat
• Where there’s a will, there’s a wave
• Thanks for making sure we don’t sink

We have even more nautical themed captions in our 50+ best cruise captions and quotes.

Funny Boating Captions

There’s never a shortage of fun on a boat, except maybe when you’re docking. Use these funny boat captions to capture the amazing memories made with friends and family on the boat this summer:

• Sorry for what I said when I was docking the boat
• I’m the captain of this boat and I have my wife’s permission to say so
• Easily distracted by boats
• Boat hair, don’t care!
• I never dreamed I’d grow up to be a super sexy boat captain, but here I am killing it
• Plank you, next
• Boats well with others
• ¿ʞo ʇɐoq ʎɯ sᴉ
• More fun to put in than pull out #boats
• I’m just here to rock the boat
• Education is important but boating is importanter
• Giving into pier pressure

Love your kayak? Check out our best 65 kayaking captions for Instagram!

More Funny Instagram Nautical Sayings

Whether you’re on a huge yacht or a canoe, a day of boating is like no other. These funny nautical sayings for Instagram will perfectly capture all the boating vibes:

• Boatin’ and boozin
• My boat, my rules
• Let me see your buoys
• I’m silently judging your boat
• But did we sink?
• I’m sexy and I row it
• They call me The Dockfather
• I’m outdoorsy, I drink on boats
• It’s a good day to drink on a boat
• Boats and hoes
• No ship, Sherlock
• I like big boats and I cannot lie
• Some people are boat people. Those are my people.

Love fresh air in your hair? You should also check out our 80+ best outdoors captions and nature quotes!

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34 Yacht Slogans

Owning a yacht isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. The amount of money, time, and hard work that goes into maintaining a boat of any size, much less a yacht, requires dedication. As soon as you’re on the water and feel the gentle sea breeze, warm sun, and freedom from the rest of your responsibilities, owning a yacht or boat makes up for it all. If you spend time at sea, create some custom t-shirts or tank tops to show off your crew’s spirit!

I’m on a boat

Feeling Nauti

Ya Ought to Be on a Yacht

I’m on Boat Time

I’d Rather Yacht than Not

My Own Personal Cruise

Let’s Get Nautical

The GOAT Boat

Yacht Hair Don’t Care

Feelin’ Salty

Rock the Dock

Not for Naught, I’ve got a Yacht!

Hey Hey, Anchors Aweigh!

Just give me the open sea

Naughty and Yachty

Ocean breeze, please

The Season for Seas on my Yacht

Nauti & Nice

Friendship on a Fancy Ship

So many ports, so little time!

Starry-eyed for Starboard Side

I’m the Captain

My Yacht, My Rules

Feelin’ Yachty

Living the Yacht Life

Leaving my troubles on shore

You say “Yacht” like it’s a bad thing

A yachter’s life for me

Time to Wear My Boat Shoes

Roads are for losers, the open sea is where it’s at!

I’d rather be yachting

The only thing sinking on my yacht is bad vibes

Sink or Swim…or Yacht

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Kendra Kountz

Kendra is the Copywriting Support at Custom Ink. She has a background in art but she loves writing, so she finds a compromise between the two by creating comics in her free time.

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30 Captions For Boat Pics When You're Having Yachts Of Fun With Your Friends

There's nothing quite like boating on a hot summer day. The sun beating down on you isn't as unbearable when the cool ocean breeze is blowing through your hair. You're in for a day filled with water activities and toasting rosé with your crew, so you’ll need to have some Instagram captions for boat pictures at the ready.

There’s so much you could be doing on the boat like fishing, waterskiing, tubing, catching up on a juicy read, or simply basking in the sunshine and working on your tan. It’s essentially a day filled with Instagram-worthy moments, so having your captions ready and a Polaroid camera by your side will make posting such a breeze.

These 30 boat-inspired captions work well for any size and type of boat you might find yourself on this summer. Perhaps your family has a small speedboat they like to take out on weekends. Between tubing and cruising through the waves, you’ll want to take a break and have a yummy picnic lunch or some snacks. Of course, you’ll snap pics of your spread and you soaking in the rays with your your spiked seltzer close by. You might make it a full day adventure and cruise into the sunset. As the sky changes colors, you can snap some seriously gorgeous magic hour selfies.

The bigger the boat, the more chances for pics. So if you’ve booked a luxe cruise to the Bahamas, make sure to have tons of captions ready for your buffet foodie pics, snaps of you lounging on the top deck, and Boomerangs of you waving hello to different ports of call.

Choosing which photo to post can be difficult. But now that you have all the punny captions and boat quotes you need, sharing your ferry impressive day will be smooth sailing.

1. "Feelin’ pretty peachy.”

2. "Good vibes happen on high tides.”

3. "It’s aboat time we all made it out on the water.”

4. "Partying like a lob-star.”

5. "Yeah, buoy.”

6. "Feeling salty about not being a mermaid.”

7. "Whatever floats your boat, babe.”

8. "Home is wherever the anchor drops.”

9. "Thanks for being my anchor.”

10. "Decided to let my dreams set sail.”

11. "Find your flow, and row, row, row.”

12. "Love you a yacht.”

13. "Literally sailing into the sunset.”

14. "I like big boats and I cannot lie."

15. "Having a reel good time with my besties.”

16. "Sea ya later.”

17. "I’m sorry, but this boat is knot for sail.”

18. "Water you looking at?”

19. "Happy as a clam.”

20. "Floating into the weekend with my rose close by.”

21. "Not salty about this situation.”

22. "What’s up dock?”

23. "Felt cute. Might go seas the day."

24. "It’s a bikini kind of life.”

25. "Shell yeah.”

26. "When you fish upon a star!”

27. "Summertime spritz on the sea.”

28. "Having yachts of fun with you."

29. "Weekend plans.”

30. "Sea ya later, beach.”

This article was originally published on 07.06.18