I agree with Dykstra, my wife and I found out we have our first on the way and is due in 3 weeks. I got the boat out of storage early to get it ready before he arrives. This way we can get out on the water with him. Although it did change some of what I needed from the boat. I had to buy a bimini for some shade and get all of the little things done so I am not messing with it on the water.

The wife even agreed if I get some ear muffs he can go for a put with me on the 22 Donzi this summer.

My family had 3 kids in a wooden century Arabian for years. It doesnt matter what voat you have to kids it's just good to get them out on the water with the family. It's good fun that you can control and teach them a few good life lessons along the way!

Thats an easy one...Cost and time! Picking up the cost of a child cuts into discretionary funds for a lot of people. Not to mention soaks up a lot your time...ah lastly your energy. I have been in and out of owning a boat because of children. Fortunately I am well past daycare years, but now we have Sports to pay for and attend. So again, time and money.

As far as the great boat debate. My opinion is there is no perfect boat. We all need at least 2, probably 3. I have had all kinds(except sail). Currently I have a 25' bow rider for the river that gets my kids out on the water. But I am fortunate to be very good at taking advantage of OPB. I have plenty of friends with different kinds of boats. That way I can enjoy all types(except sail).

John

He could always do something like a 48ec beaker with triple 1350's, that should hit 100,crush a few waves, room for the kids, and a stand up head with fancy gold fixtures for the wife........

Finally an answer that fits this discussion with this group.

Exactly how my wife & I ended up with the current boat. 47 Fountain SC with all the amenities.
Not the fastest thing on the water but quick enough with a bit of a cool factor & very comfortable.😎

Believe me , I'm no sailor by any stretch of the imagination but I've been on a few , nothing large though. A very , very long time back I went out on a boat that belonged to the father of a long time school friend. If it still exists today it would certainly be considered an early fiberglass classic .
I'll never forget how it finally got moving and heeled into the wind and the feeling of dead silent but very noticeable acceleration was a total shock to me.
I've noticed over the years though that what a sailor saves on gas they just get burnt with outrageously expensive rigging parts !

1st...congrats on the classic Scarab...cool boat.

I think cruisers vs sport boat falls into 1 of 2 categories with some overlap around the edges.

You've got some people who just prefer the whole "tea and crumpets take all day to get somewhere thing" and neither like nor understand the go fast(er) crowd. It's sorta like hunters and non-hunters ( note: "non" as opposed to "anti" ) ; those that don't hunt for the most part don't understand the attraction/motivation of people who do and you aren't going to explain it to them. That's not inherently a bad thing because if we were all the same it would be a pretty boring place.

Then you've got the sour grapes type; they'd like a sport boat but for whatever reason can't have one so they "don't understand the attraction" but every chance they get they're doing the Walter Mitty thing.

My dad has a 32 Tiara; it's a beautiful boat and twin 8.1s push her to a pretty impressive 40 knot top end.

When my wife and I were trying to decide the "sport boat vs cruiser" debate she asked "How fast does dad's boat cruise at?" & when I told her cruise speed was high 20/s / low 30's she said " So , Grand Haven to Ludington is like 3 hours ? We're not that old yet are we ?" (Yes, I have a keeper)

I can see us with a cruiser "someday"..when we're "old"....but I also can't see us without a sport boat .....

At the end of the day you need to make the decision that works best for you, not your buddy....tell him you'll keep a spot in the marina saved for him for when he finally gets there in his cruiser...

LOL....I read this to my wife and she agrees. I think she would leave me if I traded the Velocity for a cruiser.

Padraig