First boat for decent size family

[Pizzazz]

First, do understand that most cruising boats are quite similar in layout and even sailing characteristics. For me the most important parameter is headroom in the cabin. This immediately puts you in the 30+ foot category. Next, most boats between 30 and 40 feet have two private areas, one forward and one at the back, so one of your kids would need to sleep in the cabin. I do not think you need the second head (it takes so much space, you are unlikely to have enough water for long showers, so you will need to do with quick visits). If you agree with this, you will be looking for a two cabin, one head boat in the 30-35 feet range. Good examples are popular boats such as Hunter, Catalina and Beneteau. Great availability, easy to buy, easy to sell, maintenance relatively easier. Check out the above boats from your target era 80s and choose a boat that you feel excited about. This is very important, you need to fall for your boat, otherwise she will get on your nerves. I would look at:

Hunter 31 (my boat, love her)
Hunter 34
Catalina 30 and above
Ericson 32 and above

Most of these boats can be had for $20K or less. Then you spend another $10K (canvas, fixing various items, Bimini, dodger, electronics, etc. over 1-2 years) to bring her to your standards. When you get tired of the boat you can probably sell her for 50% of the above investment.

One of the posters above had a great comment that $20K gets you a lot of value as the boat is fully depreciated while $50K falls in between good value and real boats. To get a real boat, with three cabins, relatively newer, one that is worth keeping investing in you need to spend $130K-150K minimum. If you get a boat in the $50-70K range it will be a compromise (too old to invest in), too big for you at this stage or too well built for your intended purpose - you will end up losing a significant portion of the investment without much difference in potential joy.

[Kiwi.]

Alan just mentioned the Farrier trail-able trimarans. These are another favourite of mine. I'm a bit prejudiced, Ian Farrier is a Kiwi. Read about them: https://boatingnz.co.nz/boat-reviews/farrier-f22/

[kosine]

I really like the idea of a trailerable trimaran. I just thought that it might not be the best first boat, but maybe so? Also, they don't quite have the space below deck as a comparably sized mono, which others have obviously covered. Also, they're awfully pricey. Contrarily, when I look at $60k or less for a 30+ foot mono, most of my previous concerns clear up. I had just thought smaller might be better for my first boat. Maybe a small trimaran and then just charter boats for the next couple years when taking the family? Would get me out sailing with just me or me +1/2 but cheaper than a larger boat?

[thhaar]

I chose a Nonsuch 36 as our first boat. You can't beat the simplicity of the rig, the cabin is extremely roomy, and the cockpit is huge. The owners group is extremely helpful and active. Parts are easy to source. They sail quite well and are reasonably fast.

Good luck with your search.

Thomas

https://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/...292317691.html

[dcstrng]

Sounds like you’ve gotten excellent, if not unanimous, advice – already you can see a dividing line between those who enjoy the versatility of trailer-sailor, and those who are more comfortable with a bit more vessel under them. In the size boat you seem to require, the trailer-sailor will allow you to roam farther and wider, as well as maintaining the trailer, brakes, electrics and of course providing a tangible justification for the diesel F350-Dually you’ve secretly lusted after. My experience with trailerable boats convinces me that they aren’t for me as they sit unused and unloved – although many, many others have had exactly the opposite experience.

The advice on the classic-plastic is much more attractive to me. I think TP pretty much nailed it, although I like the spin that Jim, Hamburk, Jeep and other introduced to rather round out the situation. If you plan to sail at least one day a week; then the boat will need to be in the water (even if it is trailerable). It need not consume $50K or even half that with a little shopping… There is an Ericson 35 (with apparently almost new diesel) near us offered for sale at around $10K – what is attractive is the size of the cockpit on some of these older club-racers… sure their age means you’ll pull some maintenance (stay away from refurbishment, however…), but that is part of ownership -- these like the aforementioned Catalina’s, C&Cs, 30-35’ boats are readily available, sail reasonably well for most of us and are generally quite affordable… not sure I’d be quite so draconian as TP, but many of these boats are in reasonable to very-good shape, yet modestly priced enough they won’t break the family retirement account if they (shudder) evolve into a total lose…

At one stage in my sailing, some decades back, I was convinced to buy a larger boat than I really wanted (really wanted a Westsail 32, or 28) and learned a lesson – I don’t know who the skipper was on that 15-ton ketch we ended up with, but I can tell you who the maintenance officer was… for a “learning” boat, I’d stick to the 28-35 foot range (and that is a pretty large range), keep it simple and enjoy the heck out of it – you may just find that it is all you’ll ever want (as you add a trinket, gadget and/or techno-gizmo that we all seem to do…), or at least a boat you and your family enjoy for 10-15 years. If you set your budget at $50K, you’ll find your “perfect” boat is right at $51K, so I’d entertain thoughts of a much lower budget and just see what pops up…

To the extent it is worth anything, my advice is to buy a cabin that will just accommodate those you expect to sail with you, and buy the hull and rig that you can handle all by yourself – because you probably will… Simple is good, real simple is really good…

[kosine]

Again, thanks! I like simple, for sure, and have been narrowing down my selections. I had been looking at much smaller boats because I thought they'd be easier to sail, but there are so many more options in the 35 and under range compared to the 27 and under range, and many seem more reasonably priced. And on price... yep, I get ya there. Just like every time we move... budget for a new house is at $X and we inevitably get a home at 110% of $X. BTW... I already have the diesel to pull our airstream with