Just remember, no ballasted boat is going to be unsinkable... for that matter few, if any boats, even multihulls are truly unsinkable. The problem with the ETAPs is that you lose a significant amount of storage due to the foam.
Any boat can be safe for little kids, especially if you take certain precautions. PFDs for the little kids unless they're down below, tethers and
harnesses for them when they're on deck, netting along the lifelines... etc.
Making the boat easy to handle, easy to sail, and manageable when short-handed is also very important.
I'd agree with most of what Steve has said as well.
Also, using a head like a Lavac, which is considerably more fool-proof and easier to use than a standard marine head is a good idea.
__________________
Sailingdog
Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
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