Hi, New to Forum

[Matt69]

I would like to post a question as my first post.
We are a family of 6 and are looking at yachts for under $60K.
Which boat would be the best for cruising and living aboard with a family of 6?
Also what is the best hull material for such a vessel?

[skipmac]

Unfortunately your question is much too broad and too basic to answer in detail.

Do you plan day sailing from Miami to Key West in calm weather or crossing the Atlantic from Miami to Europe? What kind of boating experience do you have, what sailing skills?

Best material for the boat depends on lots of things, including your personal preferences and repair skills.

From the nature of your question I would guess you are new to sailing. Best place to start is to read, books about boats, sailing, about the experiences of other sailors and the boats they sailed on, etc.

Maybe add a little more information about your plans.

Skip

[Matt69]

To narrow it down a bit......

My wife and I would live aboard with our 4 kids, 15 down to 4yrs. So would need a double berth for ourselves with attached head, 2 of the kids would be fine in a double bunk set up in one cabin and 2 extra would need a cabin each, eg; Vee berth, saloon and two large quarter berths from what I have been looking at so far.

It seems that Fibreglass (GRP) would be the go as I have some experience working with it. I have heard that steel is robust when it comes to reef scrapes etc but the rust factor not good. Ferro sounds ugly to me so will steer clear unless someone has some great points for it.

Our sailing route would be Sydney to Bali and then throughout Indonesia, although we are planning to live on it for a year or 2 at first.

Something like this POTGEITER 36 maybe, any suggestions appreciated.


Thanks

[skipmac]

Hi Matt69,

Well that does clarify quite a lot. Guess from your proposed cruising area you're from Oz. Don't know the Potgeiter but the lines are nice. Finding a boat with two doubles and two private singles in your budget will be a tough one. The layout you describe is one of the few workable options I can think of in that size range. There are boats like the Morgan Outisland 41 with a center cockpit and private aft cabin. Nice for mom and dad to get away from the crowd occasionally. But that would leave the double v-berth forward and the last two would have to share main salon. Most boats, including the Morgan OI will have settees port and starboard to make berths so separate beds but a single cabin.

Good luck on the search.

Skip

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Sorry I can't help you narrow it down much but I definitely prefer fiberglass and diesel engines as well as cutter rigs and aft cockpits. My preference is 32-36 foot boats but your family is too large for that unless you like be squashed together.
kind regards,