Cabin size for Day sailing - how do you use it?

[Daveinet]

I've been considering upsizing and trying to figure out what is critical for cabin size. I will probably never stay over night on the boat, because I already have a nice motorhome for camping. The real context of the question has a lot to do with my kids. My thoughts are that right now the kids feel trapped on the boat, because it is small, there is no place to go. The cabin gets used for the porta-potty and storage. No one will go down there, because they feel trapped. Debating between a Beneteau 210/21.7 or a 235.

If you can not stand up in the cabin, and you are not sleeping in it, does the cabin just get used for storage, or is it ever a real place to hang out? How tall does the cabin need to be, to be a viable place to hang out?

[sailingdog]

It depends a lot on how you use the boat. If you're just daysailing, then cabin size isn't super critical, since you won't be using it for very much, other than as a restroom and stowage. However, having a slightly larger cabin has definite advantages, as you can often ride out a thunderstorm down below after dropping anchor. This can be useful, even when just daysailing.

[HeartsContent]

My cabin gets used quite a bit on day sails which is 90% of our usage. It provides my kids and their friends their own space, gets them out of the sun, is a great place to hide in inclement weather and they tend to love to take naps in the V-berth.

The kids rarely sit in the cockpit when sailing, it's the bow or the cabin.

[QuickMick]

maybe ask your kids what they would like or take them to look at boats with you? its nice you want to enhance their experience--and heck the more they wanna go out, the more you get to!

[AE28]

My Wife cannot handle too much sun, so she uses the day birth in our very small cabin.
Other than that, it's used to house the head and for storage.

[Daveinet]

Originally Posted by HeartsContent

... It provides my kids and their friends their own space, gets them out of the sun....The kids rarely sit in the cockpit when sailing, it's the bow or the cabin.

That is along the lines of what I'm thinking. You can walk around in your cabin right?

Wish I could take them to look at boats, the only sailboat shops I am aware of is over an hour away, so it will be a big commitment for them. They are not real keen on the whole idea anyway. Boat show is 2 months away, but just trying to dial in on the target.

[tomandchris]

I think that HeatsContent has nailed it.

[CaptKermie]

It also depends on your sailing venue, are you sailing on a lake off the dock in front of your cabin? How long are you out there? If your daysailing consists of an hour out beyond the dock then an hour return, I don't see the emphasis on a big cabin since you may already have one on the shore behind the dock.
Your upsizing appears to be in the 20-25 foot range, just how much cabin do you think you are going to get in that range, not a whole lot and not very high for standing either, you are talking small boat.
My wife & I do mostly day sailing and we hardly use the cabin at all while out, even over 4 hours we rarely use it. But we also do overnights and long weekends and that is when the cabin becomes critical. We need a place to sleep, eat and get changed and just sit and talk, there is enough space for this but we are at 26' overall, about as small as I can handle without suffering confinement. (actually I do suffer a bit which is why I stay at marinas).
You want space to hang out? Consider a bigger beamier boat, towards the 30foot+ range.
I doubt you can use your motorhome for camping out on the water so consider a floating motorhome, ie 'boat'

[Daveinet]

While I could spend the time overnight on the water, I doubt the family would ever go for that. At this point in my life, I'm into trailer trash. There financial limitations, that also limit the length. While I may sail on Lake MI, getting a slip is pretty expensive, and would exceed the budget. Now if a Hobie 33 dropped in my lap, the decision would be over.

I suppose my goals are a boat that is fast, extremely maneuverable, and has a toilet. However, I assuming my kids need their own space which is the whole context for the cabin question. Just trying to figure out how big the cabin needs to be, for the kids to be comfortable using it. My current cabin is so short, they feel claustrophobic - paranoid that is something bad happened to the boat, they would be trapped.

[omaho5]

Every body in my family, except for me, suffers from moton sickness when n the cabin.
Just another thought to keep in mind.