Flexible dinghy for family of 6!

   I'm looking for inspiration on the best boat now I have 4 kids!  Any suggestions?
I fear I'm looking for the impossible - a boat big enough and safe enough to take 6 of us for a day trips in reasonable safety (i.e. good reliable weather) but responsive and interesting enough to make for some more exciting moments when there is a reasonable breeze with the kids as they get older.  I was brought up in a Mirror (as was my wife) which is great as an all rounder but simply not big enough.  Perhaps a wayfarer might fit the bill - or should I be thinking about a small towable keel boat - of which I have no expereince and suspect that it will not provide enough excitement for all the hassle involved in getting it into the water.
I can't be the first person to have this problem and am open to sugesstions...

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Familyman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Familyman Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Flexible dinghy for family of 6! Posted: 31 Aug 05 at 12:01am
	I'm looking for inspiration on the best boat now I have 4 kids! Any suggestions? I fear I'm looking for the impossible - a boat big enough and safe enough to take 6 of us for a day trips in reasonable safety (i.e. good reliable weather) but responsive and interesting enough to make for some more exciting moments when there is a reasonable breeze with the kids as they get older. I was brought up in a Mirror (as was my wife) which is great as an all rounder but simply not big enough. Perhaps a wayfarer might fit the bill - or should I be thinking about a small towable keel boat - of which I have no expereince and suspect that it will not provide enough excitement for all the hassle involved in getting it into the water. I can't be the first person to have this problem and am open to sugesstions...

Stefan Lloyd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stefan Lloyd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Aug 05 at 7:31am
	Really six is keelboat territory, and not a particularly small one either. You'd be looking around 24 foot for six teenagers, 27-28 foot for six adult-sized. You can tow 24 foot with most family-sized cars but any bigger is starting to need 4x4s. If your wife also sails, maybe two Wayfarers might be another option.

FRIENDLY SAILER Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 05 Location: Netherlands Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote FRIENDLY SAILER Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Sep 05 at 11:46am
	A Ludic could be a possibility, it''s a collective dinghy with asymmetrical spinnaker adapted up to 9 persons. It even has 2 trapeze!! Info on www.phileasboats.com
	friendly sailer

Stefan Lloyd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stefan Lloyd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Sep 05 at 12:11pm
	Good grief. You are supposed to be able to get 9 people on something 18 foot long. That is cosy. 5 people on my 24 footer wasn't especially roomy. "Spacieux et convivial" is says; more convivial than spacious I'd have thought.

HannahJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jul 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 861	Post Options Post Reply Quote HannahJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Sep 05 at 10:45pm
	Hey we found three of us on a 28 ft norfolk cruiser a bit of a squash!
	MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail

hurricane Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1047	Post Options Post Reply Quote hurricane Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 05 at 8:48pm
	what about a topper sport 16 or laser stratos? they will be big enough just with a turn of speed with less on board!
	lifes to short to sail slow boats! RIP Olympic Tornado 1976-2007

Pondling Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 23 Jul 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 149	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pondling Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 05 at 8:49pm
	or a vision? or two?
	Sailors don't get old!!! They get a little dinghy (or skiff, or yacht...) Feva 251 RS200 1117 RS200 897

HannahJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jul 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 861	Post Options Post Reply Quote HannahJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Sep 05 at 11:54am
	I'd go for two actually.
	MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail

FRIENDLY SAILER Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 05 Location: Netherlands Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote FRIENDLY SAILER Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Sep 05 at 3:05pm
	Vision or stratos are not big enough for 6 people. The mentioned Ludic is a much better option.
	friendly sailer