This is just my opinion, so take with a grain of
salt. If room, less rolling on the hook, and
shallow draft, are on the top of your list, then cat. If high average speed in open
water, all sea states is a priority at $150K, then a
Santa Cruz 50 will complete passages much faster than most all cats. Don't flame me folks, it is just my opinion. If I was looking to set a
record for, say, "Most solo circumnavigations by an old fart", my choice would be a Sundeer 64 mono.
If you plan on cruising for a long time, those 3 young
children will be teens, and will want the
cabin layout of a cat.