Searching for a family boat

[Kintala]

Originally Posted by PhillipPalacios

We have been looking at boats over the last year and have been taking the steps to be ready to purchase and cruise with our 4 kids ages 9-16.

I would strongly recommend that you read the book Voyaging With Kids. It was written by some of the most knowledgable family cruisers around. Here's a link to it on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Voyaging-Kids...s%2C258&sr=8-1

[PhillipPalacios]

Originally Posted by Kintala

I would strongly recommend that you read the book Voyaging With Kids. It was written by some of the most knowledgable family cruisers around. Here's a link to it on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Voyaging-Kids...s%2C258&sr=8-1

It's on my order list now! Thanks!

[PhillipPalacios]

Originally Posted by PhillipPalacios

Anyone have thoughts on builders like Gibsea - or for that matter Hanse, Elan, Etc that have smaller user base? for a new sailor who is certainly mechanically and technically adept, is this a problem? For instance- I am confident that I could effectively replace the keel bolts on a Beneteau Oceanis based off of the technical white paper and various forum threads and YouTube videos. I cannot find anything regarding this procedure for the Gibsea 51 that I am looking at.

Anyway, thanks for reading the novel here, and any and all input/advise is appreciated.

All, Thank you so much for the input here. Theres a ton to sort through!

I am curious on this part of my original question. when it comes to some of the normal maintenance/things to keep up on . I can find quite a bit for the more popular production boats and the the more Bluewater focused boats IE replace or maintain keel bolts, Chainplates, etc. but there's not a lot for lesser known (in North America) builders like Dufour, Gibsea, Elan, Hanse etc... thinking in 10 years time when I need to replace chainplates, how difficult will it be to find the info /resources needed to do it correctly?
p

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by PhillipPalacios

All, Thank you so much for the input here. Theres a ton to sort through!

I am curious on this part of my original question. when it comes to some of the normal maintenance/things to keep up on . I can find quite a bit for the more popular production boats and the the more Bluewater focused boats IE replace or maintain keel bolts, Chainplates, etc. but there's not a lot for lesser known (in North America) builders like Dufour, Gibsea, Elan, Hanse etc... thinking in 10 years time when I need to replace chainplates, how difficult will it be to find the info /resources needed to do it correctly?
p

I wouldn’t worry 10 years down the road. Just stay in the now. Most of the information you need are you on forms like this. The challenge is sifting through information from people who know what they are talking about and the others who want to be internet stars. Just a hint…most experience people here have the boat they own listed under their avatar. I’m just saying.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I wouldn’t worry 10 years down the road. Just stay in the now. Most of the information you need are you on forms like this. The challenge is sifting through information from people who know what they are talking about and the others who want to be internet stars. Just a hint…most experience people here have the boat they own listed under their avatar. I’m just saying.

Having sailed most of what you mentioned. I would rate dufour , Hanse and gibsea in that order. I’ve personally found gibseas to be lightly built. I was out near the fastnet many years ago and the 40 foot gibsea popped both her forward cabin doors in the seaway.