HI:
I know , I know .There are a lot of you who don't want to build them or really don't care . I am sure though that some have thought about specific yachts from time to time . Say , the presidential yacht , POTOMAC ! Now there's a beautiful old gal that no one seems to model .Her lines speak of an age of excess yet AMERICAN class .
Now , how would one go about building one ? There are a gajillion ways to go about this .I for one have started one ( no pics yet ) that requires the following main parts .The LINDBERG 95 ' "CAPE CLASS " COAST GUARD CUTTER . A plastic funnel (styrene ) and one of those medium sized clear christmas balls from HOBBY LOBBY . You'll need all this to build the " spoon Stern " . Or you can cut the stern off of a large CLIPPER model that's trashed beyond rebuild .Oh , in that regard .If you have a ship like that , if you decide to" round file " it do this .
You need to carefully cut off and save all those single, double and triple blocks on the rigging .This will aid you in rigging older steam yachts as blocks were used on the stack braces early on . They were also used on the mast braces and stays . Yes , the older steam yachts in many cases still had " sailing rig " masts . Don't forget to save the small boats and the crewmen too (if you can ).
Now , that you have those parts you need to find some good pictures of your project 
. this can be done at the library (research ) or on line (fun and research )
. Then you sit down at your bench and decide , what era do I want this yacht to be ? I did , years ago convert the REVELL " HAMILTON CLASS " cutter to a model of ARI ONASSI'S yacht ,the" CHRISTINA ". It wasn't great by any means (I was younger and crazier then ) But it looked the part .Then , I had to use cardboard and balsa wood to get the job done .Wow ! whatta difference some time makes ! Now ,you can get plastic for anything . 
You must do one very important thing though .Like DON STAUFFER , (Hi , DON ! ) 
you need dedication and whatever skill you possess . Along the way you'll pick up more skills you either forgot or just never learned .That said , remember model ship building is not a fixed science or discipline .We can build any kind or vessel , either a conversion or whatever because we want that ship or boat in our collection . I haunt flea markets for carriers that are pretty much toast .Only the larger ones though .Then I take them home and build a specific type of tanker (loaded ) out of it .
I once took the old LINDBERG straight deck carrier and turned it into a troop ship , complete with lifeboats from the S.S. UNITED STATES by REVELL .
Oh , and the upper decks and modified funnels .too . My mantra (it has gotten me in trouble , is never throw that model floaty thingy away ) .It might come in handy when I am burned out on what I build , which is in my case 1/350 warships ! That's why I am always looking for a hull that can go upscale as a yacht ! Doing this challenges my abilities as a model builder , but , it gives me a whole new type of vessel to let folks see and say to themselves (" How'd he do that ? " )
I do enjoy folks liking my built models , no matter what type and I suppose we all are like that .Some of us would never think of a yacht .How about this .Take that yacht looking hull and turn it into a work boat ? A commuter vessel etc .Now , back to the beginning .Using the LINDBERG kit , you will have a lot of parts you can use later in the build .Use your imagination and the vision that pops and stays in your mind .Now , get to work ! Catchya Later - -Tanker-Builder P.S. In doing this , you can and should step out of the box on materials .