Buying a boat is a major life decision—much like purchasing a house or car—and when children and family cruising are part of the plan, priorities change. To understand how family needs shape boat choices, Soundings spoke with four families who recently purchased boats that fit their lifestyles.
The Noyes Family
Axopar 37 XC
Brent Noyes, a lifelong boater from Falmouth, Maine, grew up around skiffs and center consoles while spending time at his family’s island cottage. When he and his wife Kristen began searching for a family boat, they had a long list of requirements: seating and sleeping capacity for a blended family that includes six children (and a seventh on the way), the speed to reach their island quickly, and the range to handle longer coastal trips.
A chance connection led them to the Axopar 37 XC. After a test ride on the seller’s personal Axopar, Brent was convinced. He ordered the boat with an aft cabin, an enclosed head, a hot-water system, a galley with a cooktop and helm joystick—features that made it comfortable for extended family outings.
After taking delivery in March 2021, Brent quickly put the boat to work. One early cruise covered more than 400 nautical miles roundtrip, including an impromptu stopoff at Acadia National Park. Since then the Axopar—nicknamed Anchorman—has served as commuter, weekend cruiser and family ferry, shuttling kids and gear to camps and island homes. Its twin 300-hp outboards give the speed they need, while the enclosed cabin and heater extend the season from April through November.
For the Noyes family, the Axopar delivers a versatile balance of speed, efficiency and seakeeping. It handles chop well, accelerates quickly to cruising speeds of 30–35 knots, and allows Brent to work remotely when needed—he parks near his office and sneaks out on lunch breaks. Long-term plans include a Nantucket trip and eventually a cruise to the Florida Keys, but for now the boat gives them an easy, comfortable way to explore Maine’s vast coastline with kids in tow.
The Spaleny Family
Regal 33 Express
Erika and Steve Spaleny live in Flushing, Michigan, and their love of boating started with childhood memories and family traditions. After Erika lost her father, she and Steve decided to find a boat that could recreate those shared experiences and accommodate friends and family.
At a 2018 boat show they fell for a Regal 26 FasDeck—the color and layout appealed immediately. Though the 26 was priced beyond their budget, the experience steered them toward Regal. They eventually bought a boat that combined speed, seating and a head—key features for entertaining and day trips across Michigan’s inland lakes and the Great Lakes shoreline.
Over the first season they towed the deck boat across the state and logged extensive hours exploring Lake St. Clair, Torch Lake, Lake Charlevoix and other favorite cruising grounds. The boat proved perfect for their family lifestyle—comfortable for long days, roomy enough for guests, and well suited to both lively inland lakes and the scenic waters up north.
The Spalenys say the boat brought them closer to the water and to their community, creating new friendships and many memorable mornings and evenings along Michigan’s shorelines.
The Brunt Family
Grady-White Freedom 255
Mark and Tassia Brunt have long been boat owners in the Florida Keys and beyond. After buying a house with a long dock and owning a 2016 Mako 204 center console, they realized their family needed a larger, more comfortable boat to keep everyone safe and content. With two small children, seating layout, safety features and ease of movement were top priorities.
At the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show the Brunts evaluated several brands before narrowing their choice to Grady-White. The Freedom 255 stood out for family-focused design and handling in choppy conditions. After sea trials, they bought the 255 in early 2022, and it quickly transformed family outings.
Tassia emphasizes the small comforts that matter on family cruises: wide seating, easy step access for children, accessible life jacket storage, plentiful grabrails and a head. The Freedom 255’s layout and features make boarding and moving around easier, and the kids enjoy the ride more—Mason begs for speed while Taylor appreciates having a private head onboard.
Since taking delivery, the Brunts have used the boat for sandbar days, cruising the Intracoastal Waterway and hosting groups of friends. Mark also values its fishing capability and conveniences like a windlass and multiple stereo speakers. They plan to keep the Mako in their lineup for fishing but may trade it for a Grady-White Fisherman 257 in the future. For them, the Freedom 255 represents a nearly perfect blend of family comfort and utility.
The Bonacorso Family
Tiara 34 LX
Michael Bonacorso of Woburn, Massachusetts, has long admired Tiara yachts and has owned several boats over the years. Michael and his wife Sandra raised their daughter Sophia with a strong boating culture—she received small boats as childhood gifts and now shares her father’s enthusiasm for time on the water.
After several years aboard a Pursuit 326 outboard that offered range and reliability, Michael returned to his longtime preference for Tiara when the brand introduced outboard models. He traded the Pursuit for a Tiara 34 LX, attracted by cockpit lounge seating, a retractable sunroof, onboard entertainment and a Seakeeper for improved comfort at anchor.
The Tiara 34 LX meets the family’s needs for comfortable cruising around Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The boat’s combination of amenities and build quality convinced Michael that it was the right choice; he calls it “the best boat in the industry” for his style of boating. While Sophia playfully predicts her father will someday opt for an even larger Tiara, the 34 LX already offers the performance and comfort their family appreciates.
This article was originally published in the July 2022 issue.