Right size for family of 5?

E

Emshultz

New Member
Jan 28, 2021
15
Boat Info
2007 290 Sundancer
Engines
Boatless
Hi all! We are currently shopping boats. We just fell in love with a 290 Sundancer and are considering an offer. We are a family of 5. We are also newbies. We love the size and layout of the boat but are worried it will feel small fast since we plan to weekend on it and the 3 kids would be sharing the mid berth.

Looking for opinions from anyone who boats with the family and weighing the actual sleeping spots vs. the rest of the boat layout.

Thanks! Hoping to join you all soon here :)
 
How old are the kids? The mid berth on the 300 is okay (most days) for my 2 kids where the oldest is 10. And things can change year to year depending on how they they get along. I would be surprised if it would work having 3 kids share a mid berth. I'm not as familiar with the 290 but is there a galley couch that pulls out for sleeping?
 
Emshultz said:
Hi all! We are currently shopping boats. We just fell in love with a 290 Sundancer and are considering an offer. We are a family of 5. We are also newbies. We love the size and layout of the boat but are worried it will feel small fast since we plan to weekend on it and the 3 kids would be sharing the mid berth.

Looking for opinions from anyone who boats with the family and weighing the actual sleeping spots vs. the rest of the boat layout.

Thanks! Hoping to join you all soon here :)
Click to expand...
That does seem a little tight. You may want to consider a boat that has two full heads (toilet AND shower). That was a limiting factor for a friend of mine that has two daughters and a wife that used to boat a lot on a 320DA. They sold that and are looking at a 48DA
 
I've put bunks in both my prior 340 and my current 400 to accommodate my 3 kids. Sleeps 3 like a dream. For the year or two we had a "pack 'n play" setup for sleeping our youngest I always despised setting up/taking down the sleeping gear. I feel the same anytime we use the couch for sleeping. From a usability standpoint I can't say enough about having all of the kids in their own room. Zero setup/takedown required.

No matter what anyone tells you, you can make any size family work on any size boat. Wait long enough and folks will chime in saying a 50' boat is the bare minimum for a family of 5. Others will tell you they summered every weekend on a 260 Dancer with 4 kids and all survived. It all comes down to what you want and how much you're willing to spend to get it.

How many overnights do you plan to do? Every weekend, just a few times a year? Using the boat like a cottage? My crew of five uses our boat like a cottage. Every single weekend, all summer long, Friday and Saturday night at the marina. Many long weekends as well. In my case I'd be concerned the 290 will indeed get small fast. We felt that way about our 340 after 3 seasons with growing kids. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that way about our 400 a bit now after 3 seasons with it. I really want a third state room....but I am not a sedan bridge kind of guy.

Buy the 290 and plan for moving up in a few years? Or go get yourself on a 350-400 and see for yourself how much more room there is. It can be life changing.

Bunk it:
40888391703_2fb2e2d881_c.jpg
 
I would also add that it feels small now, it will feel even smaller later as time goes on. At least that's been my experience with boats, homes, cars etc.

When I was shopping for a Sundancer, I started out thinking a 240 would be fine for my family of 4. Then I thought it was too small, I should look at 260s. Then 280, etc up to a 340. I ended up at the 300 as a compromise mainly because the mid berth is the open style.
 
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Not too sure of the 290 layout, but fitting 3 kids in an aft berth could make for some bickering - especially as they get older. We used to have our kids sleep in the v-berth and we slept in the cockpit on an inflatable mattress. That worked until they got older (like 8 and 11) and started to hate being in each other's space.

The setup and breakdown of sleeping arrangements can indeed be a hassle. Breaking down the inflatable mattress could be annoying. Related, our last boat had an island bed in below along with a settee that converted into a berth. The upper dinette turned into a berth as well. We thought that would be fine, but it turns out the conversion process was not that easy. It became a real chore to setup/breakdown the 2 beds on a regular basis.

The boat we just got has a master cabin, guest cabin, and a dinette that converts much more easily.
 
Boats shrink when wet, on average of about 2 feet per season. Seems like a 340 would be a good fit for a growing family.
 
Wow! Thanks for all the replies already. Our kids are 3, 7, and 14. The 290 doesn’t have a dinette that converts like many of the bigger boats do. The mid berth fits all 3 lying down... for now. But it’s not what I would call roomy! Although we do plan to weekend only occasionally (6 or so times a year), I’m already wondering if it will feel tight right away.
I do agree that only we will know what that comfort level is. But the insight here is helpful nonetheless!
We had been looking at 320s and 340s but when this 290 popped up we decided to look and just enjoyed the layout. Especially the walkthrough windshield that doesn’t seem to be available on the 320s and 340s.
As a follow up... are we the only ones that hold the walkthrough windshield in such high esteem? It seems like that easy access to the bow (especially with littles) would open up the outside of the boat so much.
Thanks again!!!!
 
Stee6043 said:
I've put bunks in both my prior 340 and my current 400 to accommodate my 3 kids. Sleeps 3 like a dream. For the year or two we had a "pack 'n play" setup for sleeping our youngest I always despised setting up/taking down the sleeping gear. I feel the same anytime we use the couch for sleeping. From a usability standpoint I can't say enough about having all of the kids in their own room. Zero setup/takedown required.

No matter what anyone tells you, you can make any size family work on any size boat. Wait long enough and folks will chime in saying a 50' boat is the bare minimum for a family of 5. Others will tell you they summered every weekend on a 260 Dancer with 4 kids and all survived. It all comes down to what you want and how much you're willing to spend to get it.

How many overnights do you plan to do? Every weekend, just a few times a year? Using the boat like a cottage? My crew of five uses our boat like a cottage. Every single weekend, all summer long, Friday and Saturday night at the marina. Many long weekends as well. In my case I'd be concerned the 290 will indeed get small fast. We felt that way about our 340 after 3 seasons with growing kids. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that way about our 400 a bit now after 3 seasons with it. I really want a third state room....but I am not a sedan bridge kind of guy.

Buy the 290 and plan for moving up in a few years? Or go get yourself on a 350-400 and see for yourself how much more room there is. It can be life changing.

Bunk it:
40888391703_2fb2e2d881_c.jpg
Click to expand...
Great insight!!! We need to give a lot of thought to what makes the most sense for US. The replies here have definitely helped in any case. LOVE the bunk set up. May be picking your brain on how you did that if we end up with a 340 :)
 
Stee6043 said:
Others will tell you they summered every weekend on a 260 Dancer with 4 kids and all survived.
Click to expand...
I resemble that remark :).... now that the four are grown they come with boyfriends, husbands and these little grandkids... I have never had a boat big enough..... but always had fun squeezing into what we had...good luck
 
We used to have a 260DA (28' overall) that had neither a dinette or a sofa. I assume the 290DA you are looking at has the standard sofa and not the optional dinette. We sold the boat when my kids were about 10 and 7. Sleeping the two of them in the mid-cabin was fine... I can't see how 3 would fit without fighting. So, while it's a not a 290DA, it was basically setup the same way for sleeping. I guess we could have made it work for an occasional night or two... but it would definitely have been cramped. Would you feel comfortable letting one of the kids sleep on the sofa? It's not all THAT far if they fall off... ;)
 
Emshultz said:
Wow! Thanks for all the replies already. Our kids are 3, 7, and 14. The 290 doesn’t have a dinette that converts like many of the bigger boats do. The mid berth fits all 3 lying down... for now. But it’s not what I would call roomy! Although we do plan to weekend only occasionally (6 or so times a year), I’m already wondering if it will feel tight right away.
I do agree that only we will know what that comfort level is. But the insight here is helpful nonetheless!
We had been looking at 320s and 340s but when this 290 popped up we decided to look and just enjoyed the layout. Especially the walkthrough windshield that doesn’t seem to be available on the 320s and 340s.
As a follow up... are we the only ones that hold the walkthrough windshield in such high esteem? It seems like that easy access to the bow (especially with littles) would open up the outside of the boat so much.
Thanks again!!!!
Click to expand...

I've never really thought much about the walk-thru windshield. Maybe since I've never had one. :) Our kids (10, 9, 6) have always moved freely fore and aft when the boat is stationary, zero issues. I'm not a big fan of the kids being up front if we're moving. Occasionally it happens if adults are up there but it's not super common for us. Of course this would only be at hull-speed. If you're up on plane you're not going to have people on the deck...I hope.
 
Blueone said:
I resemble that remark :).... now that the four are grown they come with boyfriends, husbands and these little grandkids... I have never had a boat big enough..... but always had fun squeezing into what we had...good luck
Click to expand...

My first year owning a cruiser I slipped next to a family with THREE TEENS that were out almost every weekend in a 260/270, overnighting. Man we had a blast with those guys. They complained ZERO. The next year they picked up a 350 Silverton Sedan Bridge :)
 
Lazy Daze said:
We used to have a 260DA (28' overall) that had neither a dinette or a sofa. I assume the 290DA you are looking at has the standard sofa and not the optional dinette. We sold the boat when my kids were about 10 and 7. Sleeping the two of them in the mid-cabin was fine... I can't see how 3 would fit without fighting. So, while it's a not a 290DA, it was basically setup the same way for sleeping. I guess we could have made it work for an occasional night or two... but it would definitely have been cramped. Would you feel comfortable letting one of the kids sleep on the sofa? It's not all THAT far if they fall off... ;)
Click to expand...
haha - we certainly discussed that.
 
Emshultz said:
Great insight!!! We need to give a lot of thought to what makes the most sense for US. The replies here have definitely helped in any case. LOVE the bunk set up. May be picking your brain on how you did that if we end up with a 340 :)
Click to expand...

It won't be long until you hear "buy your second boat first" followed shortly by "get the biggest boat you can afford" followed by "get a diesel, gas power is inferior"! ha. Lots of experience around here...gobs of awesome advice...and lots of people willing to help you spend your money.

For what you're already looking to spend you could easily push into the upper 30's, lower 40's if you knock a decade off your model year.
 
Stee6043 said:
I've never really thought much about the walk-thru windshield. Maybe since I've never had one. :) Our kids (10, 9, 6) have always moved freely fore and aft when the boat is stationary, zero issues. I'm not a big fan of the kids being up front if we're moving. Occasionally it happens if adults are up there but it's not super common for us. Of course this would only be at hull-speed. If you're up on plane you're not going to have people on the deck...I hope.
Click to expand...
Good to know re the walkthrough. And yes, we were certainly thinking about this convenience for when stationary. :)
 
The reality is with 2 adults and 3 kids any boat will be "small." You need to find the best fit for your circumstances -- budget, operating costs, size, condition, etc. If you're not comfortable with a larger boat, start with the 290 with plans to move up after you learn what you need to learn. Just make sure you buy it right, so you can sell it without a lot of pain. Good luck.
 
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