FAMILY CRUISERS
Duncan Kent chooses a selection of sail and power boats that are ideally suited to cruising with your children and grandchildren
Many years ago I started cruising with my wife and young daughter in a 24ft woodie, covering some 7,000 miles in her over several years. This was with a homemade double bunk, a camping stove, cool box, one small car battery and a 30-year-old car engine that ran sporadically.
We moved onwards and upwards, saving every penny we could, and were soon enjoying the delights of the massive aft cabin in our 42ft Moody. However, we’ve never forgotten the fun we had in our old Falmouth Pilot and still entertain the grandkids with yarns of our early travels. Aboat is what you make of it and, no matter what your budget is, can nearly always be made to suit your requirements if needs must.
Since the turn of the century, though, more and more production yachts have been designed with family cruising in mind. For me, having had the added experience of sailing with our young grandchildren, one of the most important things is to find a boat that behaves predictably in any sea. One that’s not too tippy or flighty and can be sailed single-handed or safely left on autopilot while some crisis or another is sorted as a matter of urgency.
As the family grows up, if they’re still willing to sail with you, then they’ll likely become keen sailors themselves. So, if you can find a yacht that can cope with toddlers and yet perform well enough to also provide the thrills a little later in their lives, then you have a keeper.
20-25ft LOA
Somehow, designer David Thomas managed to squeeze a family-size cruising yacht into the Hunter Ranger 245 and still make it look good. Though conceived solely as a coastal/offshore cruiser, his earlier racing designs meant she was never going to be a slug, despite her comparatively substantial build.
My first experience of the 245 was out in an uncomfortable Solent chop with a gusty Force 5-6 sou’westerly blowing. I was prepared for our test sail to be cancelled, but Andy from Hunter Boats was having none of it.
At the end of our sail, I was having so much fun I didn’t want to come back in. Thomas really had the knack of getting the best performance out of a small boat, even one with twin keels.
Later boats had a self-tacking jib that reduced her windward performance a tad but made her more ideal for a family with young children that needed constant attention. Besides, there was always the scooper to rev things up when the opportunity presented itself!
For days without wind, the 10hp inboard diesel would get you home, charge the batteries for the evening and heat the water for t
