A Capable Family Cruiser

[Tranona]

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

It is only huge if you are used to a cosy 27'. Once you own a 37' though you often wish you had gone the extra and bought the 40' version. The point is that one can adapt to either small or large depending on your expectations. There is nothing inherently virtuous in having a smaller rather than larger boat.

 

[Stemar]

Once you own a 37' though you often wish you had gone the extra and bought the 40' version.

Until you have to pay the Marina bill...

ISTM that there are really four main kinds of sailors, though with a significant overlap. Racers, for whom speed is the essence, and comfort a long way second. These may well also be part of one of the other groups. Then there are the kind of sailors with modest boats, run on a budget; at the lower budget end, they're the people who keep Centaurs and their ilk going (in my case, a Catalac), higher budgets will cruise with a 30-ish footer. Then there are those with a significant budget, who consider 38+ to be a family cruiser, and don't care about the marina costs. Finally, there are those who've worked out the truth of "If it floats, flies or fornicates..." and charter.

Liveaboards and blue water sailors would normally fit into one of the first three groups, though I suppose there's an argument that someone who buys a boat, cruises the world, then sells it, would be a better fit in the last one

 

[Tamar]

We used to sail my kestrel 22 with 3 kids. Pretty cramped sleeping but we didn't know any better and the kids loved it (oldest 10 youngest 3) at the time, early 90s.
We recently hired a bav 49 in Corfu which I think we could easily live on without the kids.

 

[johnalison]

It is only huge if you are used to a cosy 27'. Once you own a 37' though you often wish you had gone the extra and bought the 40' version. The point is that one can adapt to either small or large depending on your expectations. There is nothing inherently virtuous in having a smaller rather than larger boat.

Not necessarily virtuous, but there are specific benefits from learning to live on and to sail a smaller boat that the generation that sees a 37’ boat as a starter size are missing out on. I suspect that there is also the temptation among them to adopt an attitude of superiority from the size of their boats, just as it is quite evident that the owners of many larger and faster cars view those of us with smaller cars with disdain.

 

[Fire99]

I remember when I had my Snappie 23 and going onboard a 747 and it was like a palace/Tardis by comparison. Putting it bluntly, if you don't get too fat, something of the 747 size would work with a couple and maybe a couple of small kids. But people are taller these days so I will concede that, but not enough to 'need' a '36. It's just our expectations have changed.

That said I sailed a Freedom 25 with the rotating wing mast, at the weekend. The virtues of a compact sailor came flooding back and in 2025 I'd take myself, a lady and two small kids sailing for a few days on one.

 

[PeterV]

Our family started cruising the Thames Estuary in a Vivacity 20, 3 boys and my parents. We raced in the cruiser class with Leigh on Sea SC many weekends. At that time the biggest boats were Snapdragon 24s, the fastest, centreboard Snapdragon 23s. It was only when my much younger sister was born and took up one of the berths with her cot that the boat started to feel small, and when it was replaced with a centreboard Snapdragon 26 that seemed huge!
We now have a GK 29, I thought it was a big boat!

 

[zoidberg]

Two weeks cruising the Baltic islands? No bother... Lots of space!

 

[Daedelus]

Mrs D only once lost her cool with guests on the boat. He had got up and gone for a shower and returned but HAD NOT put the kettle on for tea at any time.

 

[mjcoon]

Two weeks cruising the Baltic islands? No bother... Lots of space!

Ah, like the roadster with the tag line "93 million miles headroom"! (But why stop there?)

 

[Fire99]

Our family started cruising the Thames Estuary in a Vivacity 20, 3 boys and my parents. We raced in the cruiser class with Leigh on Sea SC many weekends. At that time the biggest boats were Snapdragon 24s, the fastest, centreboard Snapdragon 23s. It was only when my much younger sister was born and took up one of the berths with her cot that the boat started to feel small, and when it was replaced with a centreboard Snapdragon 26 that seemed huge!
We now have a GK 29, I thought it was a big boat!

I still think a GK29 is a big boat. One of my favourites to be honest. How are you finding her?

 

[Tranona]

Not necessarily virtuous, but there are specific benefits from learning to live on and to sail a smaller boat that the generation that sees a 37’ boat as a starter size are missing out on. I suspect that there is also the temptation among them to adopt an attitude of superiority from the size of their boats, just as it is quite evident that the owners of many larger and faster cars view those of us with smaller cars with disdain.

Rather patronising observations. Just because you (and many others like myself) learned their cruising on small cramped boats because that is what we could afford does not mean others have to do the same. I have found 2snobs" in all sizes of boats and cars.

We bought our 37 because we could afford it and it was perfect for our pattern of use and if our children had still been smaller and done more with us would have bought a 42. It would have been just as much fun as our 26' we had when they were small.

 

[johnalison]

Rather patronising observations. Just because you (and many others like myself) learned their cruising on small cramped boats because that is what we could afford does not mean others have to do the same. I have found 2snobs" in all sizes of boats and cars.

We bought our 37 because we could afford it and it was perfect for our pattern of use and if our children had still been smaller and done more with us would have bought a 42. It would have been just as much fun as our 26' we had when they were small.

There have been many discussions here about big vs small, especially about the idea that it might be necessary to do dinghy sailing in order to become competent. I have never had a 'big' boat, though my 34 might be considered so by some. There was a time when we considered moving up to a 39. I think it would have been nice, and I sometimes wonder what we could have done with its greater weatherliness, but sooner or later we would have felt the need to change down again and might possibly have balked at the hassle. All I can say is that I can't see how I could have learned to appreciate the feel of a boat if I had not had small boat experience, and my impression of those who have not done it has not always been positive.

 

[JRCO26]

£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.

37ft is a huge boat. If a family of two adults and 2-4 kids can't handle a 37 foot yacht, take up a new hobby.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

37ft is a huge boat. If a family of two adults and 2-4 kids can't handle a 37 foot yacht, take up a new hobby.

WTF.

It's a small boat in my book. I can easily 'handle' as you patronisingly put it, a boat of that size, or any size, on my own or with wife, or with guests. My kids are 29 and 27 and both taller than me. A 37 foot boat would be a non starter.

 

[JRCO26]

WTF.

It's a small boat in my book. I can easily 'handle' as you patronisingly put it, a boat of that size, or any size, on my own or with wife, or with guests. My kids are 29 and 27 and both taller than me. A 37 foot boat would be a non starter.

"Handle" as in live-aboard on a sailing holiday. Not handle the boat as in sailing it and using the gear.
So yes, "WTF" 37' is effing huge.

 

[JRCO26]

And as to your "kids' that you now state are 29 and 27 respectively - that is just smart@rsery -- obviously when people are talking about sailing with their family, they are talking about mum and dad and little kids or teenagers tops, not two "kids" old enough to have families of their own.

 

[LittleSister]

There is nothing inherently virtuous in having a smaller rather than larger boat.

Harrumph!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

"Handle" as in live-aboard on a sailing holiday. Not handle the boat as in sailing it and using the gear.
So yes, "WTF" 37' is effing huge.

And as to your "kids' that you now state are 29 and 27 respectively - that is just smart@rsery -- obviously when people are talking about sailing with their family, they are talking about mum and dad and little kids or teenagers tops, not two "kids" old enough to have families of their own.

37ft is a huge boat. If a family of two adults and 2-4 kids can't handle a 37 foot yacht, take up a new hobby.

You know nothing of me or of my needs. Don’t presume to tell me what I like or want.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

You know nothing of me of my needs. Don’t presume to tell me what I like or want.

Perhaps I should try that line with my bank.

 

[obmij]

You get a lot more second hand boat for your money than you used to.

For the price I paid for my first boat, a POS cheapest on the market Hurley 22 in 2000, I could now have my pick of well found, in commission 26 footers (when adjusted for inflation)

Around the same time a half decent Centaur was going for around £12K so £24K in todays money. That now gets you a decent 30-32 footer around 20 years old so not only bigger but relatively newer.

If I'd have had the means to buy a 37 footer in 2000 I would have done so. There is no advantage to getting the shit kicked out of you in a tiny boat with a chemical toilet and bending headroom if you don't have to. Still had fun though.

These days I think 36ft is a decent family size boat for a young family. Easy to handle, enough space to relax. Not too many systems to worry about.