Please take rsmith's cautions to heart. We raised our four kids on the water and typically had them out on small boats when they were just a few months old. But you have to watch them carefully and train them in being safe on the boat and water. It can be a wonderful experience for both parents and kids, but you will need to take some extra precautions and get some training for the kids and perhaps your self. A life jacket is a minimum but doesn't help when a fall is stoppped by something hard like a wharf, deck or swim platform.

Storage can be a problem when you come from a spacious dirt home. You will need to become 'minimalists' with limited wardrobes. Out of season stuff and tools can be stored ashore in a locker. Consider also that the school age kids will need some quiet areas for studies and homework. Hopefully you are all very compatible. Good luck with your dream.

Bobk
Chateau de Mer
Series I 48' motor yacht