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scoobert · 17-02-2013, 03:50

so here we go,
i am looking for a cheap and cheerful fiberglass boat to liveabord.
need room for two medium dogs, two adults and a baby.
i see many 42' class boats with aft cabins.
we would probably be on the boat no more then 2-5 years,
while i finish our other yacht.
coastal only, going down the ditch and back yearly.

do you think this would be large enough?
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...url=&imc=pg-fs

i am sure there are many out there in the same situation as i am.
we were going to continue to live in the RV until the yacht was finished, nut there is no room for a baby in a 40' RV.

**Hudson Force** · 17-02-2013, 04:10

What people deem neccessary for "living space" varies. I was once very comfortable living on board a 33' sailboat with my wife and two children. I would consider the 45' motor yacht for three and the dogs far beyond adequate space. I don't think that advice from others on this topic of needed space will be meaningful for you. Beyond the Yachtworld search you will likely do best by spending some time wandering though these boats.

scoobert · 17-02-2013, 04:12

i would love to, but its the great north east, and every decent boat is under a wrapper.
so i am guessing you would think a 40' adequate as well then?

**Hudson Force** · 17-02-2013, 04:37

Sorry, I didn't consider your location. I'm sitting on my boat in Florida suffering with the morning chill in the mid thirties. We're in a cold spell with highs in the fifties in North Florida today. Yes, I would consider a 40' motor yacht suitable, but then I spent time on my 41' sailboat with two adults and two teens (One teenager = three dogs). I still don't think that the opinions of others will transfer truely to your needs and one forty foot boat can have half the functional space when compared to another forty foot boat. Maybe the best search would be to view the interior layout plans of the contenders. I know that not all vessels on Yachtworld have a layout diagram, but you'll likely be able to seach them online. I'd make a list of your needs including galley size, number of heads, berths, headroom, main salon space, etc. and see what meets your needs. Good luck!

scoobert · 17-02-2013, 04:40

wow, i should consider Florida boats too, can tell the wife i am going boat shopping for 3 weeks

one teen=3 dogs, lol.
i am more concerned with the welfare of the child. having his/her own room is what i understand is what they should have???
there are a few things i know very little about.
the human body,
parenting.
lol

**Hudson Force** · 17-02-2013, 04:58

You mentioned "baby",- we employed the "you can't fall off the floor" strategy when our children were infants and kept them, when sleeping, in baskets on the floor of our main cabin. Actually, our son and daughter didn't have their own cabins until they were seven and nine.

sailorboy1 · 17-02-2013, 05:04

I don't think one knows what "space" means to them until they have spent time a boat to have a point of reference.

My first boat was 39' and I thought it had space. But after the first year I knew I was wrong and started the oving up process. But there are people here that will say that a 27' boat has space, which to me is just crazy to be living in a closet.

scoobert · 17-02-2013, 05:46

i think a good starting point would be more then 400 sq ft

Kettlewell · 17-02-2013, 05:59

It's not going to be "cheap" to push a big power boat like that up and down the ICW, but cheap is relative I suppose. Just curious--how are you going to "finish your other yacht" while you're going up and down the ICW?

scoobert · 17-02-2013, 06:10

because i am having the hull built.
i will be finishing the interior, and powering it.

**boatman61** · 17-02-2013, 06:12

If you were European I'd say between 32-35ft...
But your not... so a minimum of 45ft

scoobert · 17-02-2013, 06:36

so true. a large house to European folk is 300 SQFT on .25 hectors of land.

**Hudson Force** · 17-02-2013, 07:49

As my children are grown and off on their own my wife and I spend all our time within 200 of the 300 square feet that is available on our boat. Does this mean we are neither American or European? ......are we becomming Asian? I just can't keep up with the labels you guys keep!

Cruisingdad · 17-02-2013, 07:59

We are fulltime cruisers with kids. My kids have spent most of their lives on boats ( 5 days old). We also have a fat bulldog. As such, i am opinionated about this, but take the comments as someone who has at least been there and still is.

I would avoid the often quoted bluewater boats. I find them horribly cramped and generally expensive. I would focus my search production boats. Babies on board are very easy. You need to be conscious about a place where you can put this child that works as a "play pen or crib". For us, we made a padded area in the vberth with a crib side going across to pen them in. Luckily, boats are fairly childproof to begin with and babies are easy.

The tough part comes when they start walking and can climb the companion way. Find a way to lock that from the inside.

The best boat is a boat where you can have some escape area. An aft cabin with comfortable seating is nice. A berth where you can sit up. The cockpit cannot be one of these as the hardest part of living aboard actually comes in rainy weather or bad weather when you are all trapped below.

My biggest suggestion is find a boat that is comfortable. The key to making it work as a LA with kids is comfort. This means different things to different people.

We started with a catalina 380. We are now on a catalina 400. Boats to consider over 100k are catalina 42s, 400s, 380s. Other boats might be the hunter legend series. The 40.5 is a good boat and can be picked up under 100k. Irwins and pearsons also have a lot of room. For long term LA, i would start at about 36 feet and try and find something in the 40ish foot range. If you dont care about sailability, maybe an old morgan outislander.

I find many motor boats are spacious but devoid of real storage. Instaed, a trawler might be better which is both economical to run and built for living aboard.

Hope that helps. Take care. We will see you out there!!

Brian