boat advice with young kids

Ditto.

When you do start you'd be better off with a small keelboat. Lots of good small keelboats around second hand, many are cheaper than dinghies, eg a reasonable leisure 17 for under £2000. I've just sold my Hunter Medina for £3500, something like that would be better than a dinghy, also ideal for Poole harbour and trips out to Studland etc.

Stratos Keel has the raising keel - Web address here

Whereas the Wayfarer is a centreboard.

Take a look, but you might have to wait for a Keel version of the Laser Stratos to come onto the S/H market.

I've been taking my children out sailing since they were tiny, on the right day, and they loved it. Now 7 and 5, they are very confident in and around boats, and are looking forward to the weather warming up. You would have to take more care on poole harbour than you would on a lake, but I can safely say there are far fewer accidents involving children in sailing than there are at Wacky Warehouse play areas. Or in the car getting them to the play area/sailing club.

Has anyone got figures showing how many deaths/injuries have happened to toddles when sailing with their parents in sheltered waters?

[I've been taking my children out sailing since they were tiny, on the right day, and they loved it. Now 7 and 5, they are very confident in and around boats

This is what I hope to achieve - I do want to buy a bigger boat (30ft ish) in 5-10 years time, and want them to be comfortable, confident and happy afloat/

We have trailed/launched our Stratos (centreboard) at lots of different locations 30 - 45 minutes to rig, pack the picnic and launch. I won't go into the advantages/disadvantages re dinghy/keelboat as I prefer dinghy sailing but the Stratos (or Wayfarer) is a good compromise especially with the keel version (as well as 'performance' with a small 'p' if you want it). Like any sport there are risks in sailing but there is no reason a well prepared 'cruise' in sheltered waters like Poole should be any more risky than driving to the coast down the motorway ! Like most things always plan ahead, plan for contingencies (and carry a good anchor and chain !). I have taken my Stratos out in all weathers (not suggesting you do with a young family) and it has really looked after us . If you have an outboard (I have'nt, just good paddles) you have your extra safety factor.

Why not start off inland to get a feel for it for a year or so whilst the kids are very young ? I am sure they will enjoy it and you can come in very easily when they start getting bored/cold. Good point about having two of you who can sail we always do .

In terms of weight Stratos/Wayfarer about 180 kgs and the Stratos Keel 280kgs which you need to consider when pulling up and down slipways. I can do this with my wife on most slipways but the keel version will probably require the winch......good luck keelboat or dinghy sailing .........