Best boat for family of 5 new to living aboard

Cruising at around 30kts is going to cost you a LOT of fuel and probably limit your options to sportfish.

I would also put stabilizers on the must have list.

Personally even with the ability to cruise at high speed, I usually prefer to take it easy at hull speed. Less noise, smoother motion, less wear n year and less fuel. Even when I am the captain and not paying for fuel Also don’t forget that fuel is twice the price in the Bahamas (just paid $3.85 here in the Exumas) and with most boats in the 50/60 size range range will be limited.

If you stick to a quality brand 2000/2005 vintage is not an issue. Personally I ll take a 2000 Hatteras or Viking over a 5 year old Mutt, Carver etc... better systems, better quality. Fewer issues

As an owner operator pay close attention to ER space and system accessibility... make sure you can easily reach and service the generator, water pumps, watermaker etc.

Pretty much everything will have a bow thruster. Stern thruster? Sometimes as it s really not needed on a twin diesel.

I think you'll need to figure a captain's salary into your first year's budget along with his or her sleeping arrangements. I agree with Pascal that Hatteras or Viking would be a good choice. 15 or 20 years is not old for a well maintained vessel in this size range as most of their life is spent on the dock.

I can think of a few that might fit your needs. A Maritimo is a cross between a MY and a SF and I'd look there. A 52' or 58' Searay sedan bridge from mid to late 2000s. Hatteras didn't build anything that small in MY's in that era, but 63' or newer 64' would be a good option and is a very comfortable boat for your needs. Viking SC is not a good liveaboard 60/61 from early 2000's IMO because the galley down is tight and in a dark hole and stairs going up to salon level are steep.

I missed the L.O.A. range. The three sleeping rooms combined with High 20's cruise will put you closer to Sport Fish I think.
Does a Searay 58 Sedan bridge cruise at 27 knots?

My search found so many great options, have fun. I love boat shopping

https://www.**************/boats/2002/hatteras-60-convertible-3672294/
Spend more get more. If I were you...

https://www.**************/boats/2006/riviera-60-flybridge-3195911/
Like Capt J is thinking

https://www.**************/boats/2009/sunseeker-manhattan-60-3663767/
probably not fast enough but classy and comfy and quality and a budget stretcher

https://www.**************/boats/2007/sea-ray-580-sedan-bridge-3657605/
Lot's of these around and certainly fit the bill and on the lower end of the budget.

Yes, the Searay 58 sedan bridge cruises at 28+ knots.

My setup is close to your sweet spot. After looking for a few years I decided against a trawler and went for the speed of a M/Y. I have a 2007 Pama 54 Flybidge; nice salon, good galley, 2 queens and a bunk room down. 2 heads— and frankly the showers are better than I have at home. Washer and dryer are used constantly. Great grill fridge sink and ice Maker on FB, and a 13’ tender fits up top. Great teak and holly interior. I upgraded the bimini and installed a Yacht Controller (to save my marriage)

Twin Volvo D-9s will cruise 20kts @35 GPH, but hull
Speed closer to 5gph. we have a water maker and big lazarette. Engine room access is Good. Holds 700 Gals of diesel. I’ve taken it to Abacos, Chubb, Bimini, Key West and back up west coast, Naples and across Ocochobee Waterway. I wish I had stabilizers, but don’t think I want to spend the $$- even though i would love them and it would help me sell in future.

It’s kind of like a how a Hyundai Genesis surprises you on how nice it is. Look at lots of boats, find a good buyers agent, and listen to the wise counsel of these gentlemen

Out of curiosity, how often do you find yourself at hull speed versus cruise? I have always thought a trawler was my future plans but the M/Y's are really nice and spacious. I just don't want to always be burning do much fuel in retirement especially when I want to leisurely cruise.

I did the entire great loop, 90% of the time at 1000 rpms @ 12 GPH (total) in a older 75' Hatteras MY.

And except where there were speed limits we did it between 18 and 27 knots. Just proves that different people will run differently. If you have a fast boat, you can always run it slow. If you have a slow boat, you have no choices.

In Comparison, I ran a 60' defeaver from Green Port, NY to Stuart, FL. It had a hull speed of 8 knots, but many days we we're down to 5.7-6.2 knots in the ICW due to current on the bow, too slow to run outside and make any sense during daylight hours due to the 15-20NM in AND out of each inlet. EVERY day was a 12 hour day and exhausting......it seems every stop is 30-40 miles apart, so we'd pass marina's at 1pm and push till the next one......which was like 7pm.......good thing we only needed fuel every 7 days because the fuel dock was never opened when we got into the marina. LOLOLOLOL It was horrific as you never knew when you'd get in because you couldn't guarantee your speed......whereas semi-displacement, or planing, current doesn't have nearly as much effect on them.

Sounds like a typical slow-boat delivery. To contrast (for OP), the same trip as a vacation or as a liveaboard means every one of those 30-40 mile stops is an opportunity to see some sights, smell the coffee, drink the roses...

Just an observation, not a recommendation...

-Chris

Bertram I would avoid the 570 completely. Bertram had LOTS of serious structural issues of the hulls on the 570's and 630's from around 2001-2010 and I wouldn't touch one if you gave it to me.

I’m mostly hull speed- However I run fast 20-22kts doing a Gulf Stream crossing; being a Native flatlander I tend to minimize the time doing blue water crossings. It’s also great when you need to “buy time” to make a bridge opening or hit a weather window. We did that in Feb from Key West to Naples; we departed first light and ran hard 90mi to be @ Naples before the wind picked up in afternoon.

we like the galley up and interior stairs to the FB.

Really, really well put! I think what you describe appeals to detail-oriented people and not to big-picture people.

With the young kids onboard you will want a pilot house design in order to keep a better eye on them, otherwise you will be stuck solo on the Flybridge while everyone is gathered in the salon, especially in inclement weather.

https://www.**************/boats/2008/marquis-59-3613001/

You are going to have to compromise on speed and focus more on a family friendly layout as you spend less time at speed and more on anchor/dockside.

Another issue with SF is boarding at fixed docks. Usually the dock is 1 to 3’ than the cockpit. Can be hard for some people. Alternative is to go forward on the narrow side deck and climb over the railing. Awkward either

I had a similar search Over the past couple years although my budget was down around the 300s. I settled on a sport fish for our family with 3 kids. We are a pretty hardcore boating family and the ladder and lack of m/y type accommodations didn’t bother me plus the sport fish hopefully will allow us to be a fishing family. We got 3 rooms and 2 bath, comfy salon to hang inside on off days or when it’s 1000 degrees or raining but not feel like we are in a cave like our cruiser. The cockpit doubles As a big playpen. Tender on bow for our adventures.