Over the years my office has dealt with literally hundreds of thousands of enquiries from those who intend taking up the cruising lifestyle. One of the most asked questions is how big a boat I should choose. Our reply is always the same ‘choose the smallest boat that will satisfy your current requirements.’Will your children want to accompany you when they are past the early teenage years? Do not expect to have a continual stream of friends and relatives who are clamouring to join you for various sections of your voyage. Unless you are very wealthy do not choose a size of boat that will require a crew to assist you in handling the vessel. As for the upper size range; well set up cruising Sail boats up to 55 ft (16.75 m) can be handled by a two person crew; this includes a husband and wife combination. How small is too small; one Canadian couple built and sailed a Roberts designed 18 ft (5.48 m) trailer sailer from Montreal to Australia; they even took their cat along. Please do not take this later example as a recommendation
