Western Canadian looking for 3 cabin offshore cruiser

[KLees]

Am located in the interior of B.C., and am realizing the fact that I have to purchase, outfit, and start our family voyage from distant shores. Am looking for a 3 cabin sailboat that won''t break our family''s reserves. Have previously owned a CT 41 for coastal cruising but have been wondering what other used options experienced cruisers might suggest. Have 3 boy''s 5,11. and 15 and hope this voyage is the right thing for our family. In my limited access to other cruisers it seems personal space is of prime concern. Any thoughts on the right boat, and other issues regarding kids on cruising sailboats would be appreciated. This darn dream I keep having just won''t go away. My wife want''s to do it and my kids are wondering what''s in it for them.
First post on this site, hope I got it right!
KWL

[magnusmurphy]

Hi
I''m in Calgary and share the dream. One thing I''ve learnt from some personal experience but mostly from reading everything I could over many years is this:
Don''t believe everything you hear. Especially on certain bulletin boards you''ll often hear you should have this or that kind of boat otherwise you''re not being prudent. However, this attitude may keep you from going altogether.
A very interesting book you should read is"
"Sensible cruising; the Thoreau approach"

The point is go with you boat you have or can afford, (within reason) and adapt you cruising plans or wheather window accordingly.

Most production boats today will outlast any human body in rough wheather, notwithstanding the fact that some guy in a leather chair writes that it may not be an "offshore" boat.
The risk you will run in doing a crossing in a boat that may not be considered "offshore", is probably smaller than your daily commute to work and back.

My recommendation. Buy a boat and start your dream. Don''t look back...

Just my opinion

MM

[henryvand]

While the boat I currently own is a monohull I have chartered a catamaran for carribean vacation sailing and they offer a lot more accomodation options with separation for personal space. The large cockpit and foredeck areas could also be a big plus with three boys on board. On the downside good cats can be pricey and they don''t seem to like going to windward as well.The offshore suitability of cats seems to be an ongoing debate and I''m curious to see further input from others.

[namaste04]

Hi KWL,

you might want to take a look at our website on how we are making the dream work for us. We looked at several center-cockpit and aft-cockpit with real quarter-cabin boats and ended up with a New Hampshire built Mariner 39. http://www.sailnamaste.com

Good luck!
Stacey