Family of 5 need advice

[BeackCote]

Hi, we are new to the sailing world. We have 3 kids (9, 3 and 1). This is our first summer on the water with a Tanzer 26. Living in Quebec, we've been going only on lakes. Next summer we are moving our west and are looking at what type of boat would be great for our family of five.

As this would be our first blue water experience, we mainly would use the boat for day, weekend trips but if space could permit it would like to spend a week onboard (with the kids). We'll be sailing mainliy un Pacific NW (seattle, vancouver area)

We got a great offer on a Hunter 28.5 but I think we'll have to be looking at 32-34 feet for what we want to do.

Any recommendation would be welcome!

Thanks!

[jnsailing]

If you can afford it I would suggest something in the 40 ft range - Kids grow - They don't get any smaller and having the extra space is a gift from God

John N.

[sailingdog]

Have you considered a catamaran. With a family, the extra room is often quite useful, and the fact that they don't heel much makes keeping kids aboard simpler.

Some of the mid-30' cats would be pretty well suited for what you're doing. The Gemini 105, TomCat 30 and MaineCat 30 are among good choices for you. The Catalac 8m or 9m would also be good choices, as would the Prout Snowgoose or Iroquois.

[eMKay]

How about something made by Ericson, it's probably perfect for that area. They are a little more robust than the typical coastal boats (Hunter, Catalina, O'day, etc...).

[blt2ski]

You're into a funky question. Same as How big a house? car? etc. It all depends.

My 30'r with no shower or hot and cold running water was used by previous owners with 3 daughters for trips upwards of a month going from the sout part of Puget sound, all the way up and back to Desolation sound! Inlcuing a few time in later yrs with the daughters spouses for weekends etc. Yes I am sure it was rather comfy, but they survived just fine!

I had a 24' Travel trailer for some 12 yrs, no slides, no bunks with 4 kids, some did not know how we survived. We did just fine, with all having wonderfull experiences and memories.

Now that said 4 kids, 2 ea sons and daughters, come on the boat, the boyz are granted 4" taller than the bare head room we have, I can only stand in the front 3', wife can stand in the whole thing. they are out with us on Wed nights in the eve racing etc.

Get something that has bunks/beds for everyone, yes you may have to make up a dinette ea eve or day as someone is sleeping on it. You may only have on head on it. In the end, the things they see on the water will stay with them. Just as when my parents and I were on our 21' trailer sailer in the san juans one time, I was on the boat at a St pk bouy, and a pod of orcas came by. Boy I felt really small!

Get something that fits the budget, etc, and enjoy it!

marty

[Ilenart]

We also have a family of 5 (kids are 13, 11 and 6) and the previous boat was a 25ft trailer sailer. We stared looking in the 35-45ft range and my present boat (LOA 44ft) works well with the kids forward and us aft. We are also finding that the kids want to bring friends along so we often end up with 6-7POB's for weekends. We are looking at 2-3 week trips, so given your shorter timescale a 35-39ft boat would probably work well. A boat just under 39ft also fits into a 12m pen.

Ilenart

[Robby Barlow]

Originally Posted by jnsailing

If you can afford it I would suggest something in the 40 ft range - Kids grow - They don't get any smaller and having the extra space is a gift from God

John N.

Could be as correct as what Ilenart says, but on the other hand, maybe none of your kids will take to sailing in the future! Maybe a compromise should be considered.