A Capable Family Cruiser

[Stemar]

When I bought my 1970 vintage Snapdragon 24, she came with a PBO or similar article that described her as a capable family cruiser. I suspect that few would agree with that definition now, so what's your idea of a capable family cruiser now?

 

[johnalison]

When I bought my 1970 vintage Snapdragon 24, she came with a PBO or similar article that described her as a capable family cruiser. I suspect that few would agree with that definition now, so what's your idea of a capable family cruiser now?

With due respect, the Snapdragon 24 was a fairly modest boat even then (about the time we bought a 22' Cirrus). I think the boat to compare with would probably be a Centaur, which was +/- £4500. Although I have achieved the peak of my sailing acquisitions with an HR 34, I suppose we have to say that it would be a BenjeBav of around 35-37ft, with the 30-32' boats taking the place of you Snappy as being perfectly good but not aspirational.

 

[Stemar]

I think you're about right. The Centaur was around the average price of a house in 1970, and I would guess the 37 ft AWB would be not far off today's average house price, around £260,000.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

£290k according to Halifax. Whatever. But I very much doubt that today’s family would be entirely delighted being crammed into a 37’er. I know I wouldn’t at least.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The 4 of us fitted into a very compact 26 footer, without the kids whingeing. The new price of it both then and now was about half the average house price.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

It’s the parents I was thinking of! Sharing a 28’er with my kids at any age would be a complete no.

 

[johnalison]

We sailed with the children for many years in a Mystere 26. It had a good saloon but was smaller overall than a Corsair. I think it cost £5000 in 1974 at a time when gazumping was rife and prices were rocketing, so I can’t easily compare it with the price of a house, maybe still around a half. The children weren’t permitted complaints, and in any case, the little creatures knew no better.

 

[mjcoon]

It’s the parents I was thinking of! Sharing a 28’er with my kids at any age would be a complete no.

How did you come by the wrong kids? ;-)

 

[Sailing steve]

We sailed with the children for many years in a Mystere 26. It had a good saloon but was smaller overall than a Corsair. I think it cost £5000 in 1974 at a time when gazumping was rife and prices were rocketing, so I can’t easily compare it with the price of a house, maybe still around a half. The children weren’t permitted complaints, and in any case, the little creatures knew no better.

I see your Mystere 26 and raise you a family of 4 sailing in a Leisure 20.

Apart from the occasional eruption of sibling rivalry and/or adolescent angst everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

How did you come by the wrong kids? ;-)

I blame the parents!

 

[Stemar]

Was it Denny Desouter who described a boat as taking two in comfort, four in discomfort and five in mortal enmity?

He could have been talking about our Snappie, though we did manage five for a weekend without homicide a couple of times.

 

[johnalison]

Why is it that whatever size of boat, it always seems just about the right size for two?

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I sailed many sizes of yachts, most always full e.g. 6 on a Sigma 33. It was entirely normal to sail on a full boat. That was decades ago.

These days, that still happens when chartering, when it’s a group, an easy way to spread the cost.

When I bought my first boat I opted for 40’, as it was lots of room for just my wife and I, and capable of the group sails as well.

Anecdotally, based on limited discussions with current commercial skippers, instructors, some clients have different expectations these days and expect separate cabins, only sharing with friends or partners.

I guess that is reflected in modern designs with twin aft cabins, cabin forward of saloon to one side with two bunks, and the usual fore cabin (or split forecabin). And why not, far more civilised.

 

[Stemar]

I guess that is reflected in modern designs with twin aft cabins, cabin forward of saloon to one side with two bunks, and the usual fore cabin (or split forecabin). And why not, far more civilised.

For those with the budget.

For Madame and me, in those idle moments when the lottery thread pops up again, I think the upper limit for our silly money boat would be around 38 ft. We're both getting older, so it would probably a mobo, but trawler style rather than steam iron. I'd be looking for a master suite, plus a guest suite for all those new friends... No, the new "friends" can swim for it, but old friends and family would, I hope.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Why is it that whatever size of boat, it always seems just about the right size for two?

Odd isn’t it. We have the 30ft version of our 26ft family cruiser, and you’re absolutely right. It seems a crowd with more, apart from racing, where 1 more, in their drysuit, is ideal. They can spend the time on the amas that way.

 

[johnalison]

I sailed many sizes of yachts, most always full e.g. 6 on a Sigma 33. It was entirely normal to sail on a full boat. That was decades ago.

These days, that still happens when chartering, when it’s a group, an easy way to spread the cost.

When I bought my first boat I opted for 40’, as it was lots of room for just my wife and I, and capable of the group sails as well.

Anecdotally, based on limited discussions with current commercial skippers, instructors, some clients have different expectations these days and expect separate cabins, only sharing with friends or partners.

I guess that is reflected in modern designs with twin aft cabins, cabin forward of saloon to one side with two bunks, and the usual fore cabin (or split forecabin). And why not, far more civilised.

That may be so but the family dynamics on a small boat can be something precious to those who have survived intact. My memories of squeezing together into boats that were not much more than overgrown dinghies are almost entirely positive, and in spite of the hardships that seemed like fun at the time, our two children loved it more as they grew up and have always sought to come on board as often as their studies and work allowed. A whole generation of new sailors probably can't imagine how we could have put up with the lack of privacy and the experience of bobbing around in the middle of the Channel or North sea for an eternity without radio or even phones, but it seemed and was quite normal at the time.

 

[mjcoon]

I sailed many sizes of yachts, most always full e.g. 6 on a Sigma 33. It was entirely normal to sail on a full boat. That was decades ago.

Yes, like those early flotillas on Snapdragon 747s (pace Stemar). Goodness knows how four blokes fitted in, in all senses, back then...

 

[dansaskip]

being crammed into a 37’er.

But a 37 footer is huge you are not likely to be crammed in unless you are giants

 

[RunAgroundHard]

That may be so but the family dynamics on a small boat can be something precious to those who have survived intact. My memories of squeezing together into boats that were not much more than overgrown dinghies are almost entirely positive, and in spite of the hardships that seemed like fun at the time, our two children loved it more as they grew up and have always sought to come on board as often as their studies and work allowed. A whole generation of new sailors probably can't imagine how we could have put up with the lack of privacy and the experience of bobbing around in the middle of the Channel or North sea for an eternity without radio or even phones, but it seemed and was quite normal at the time.

I agree, and I don’t think the reality today is much different either. At my marina, there has been a handful of small yachts with families cruising the West Coast, that have owned their boats. Also, the popularity of the camper van with families suggest a similar experience. No doubt the adventure of it all, and the affordability of smaller boats (or vans) ensures small family boats will continue to be reasonably popular.

 

[adamstjohn]

All this talk of bigger boats is making me green with envy. i can only just afford what i have which co-incidentally a 30ft low volume sailing yacht from a bygone era .
I moan like hell when the kids (now tall teens) will never go sailing but moan even more when i trip over their gear and their size 10's

We were alone on the boat this weekend and 30 ft felt like a good size. A very nice Salona 40 with a couple on board chatted briefly as they drifted by us ... i was furiously green with envy....

I think the general opinion is about right, 36-38 ft if you have the cash. if not , the Snapdragon will do the job too.