Choosing the best sailboat to live on: how many cabins?

There are multiple things to consider to ensure you choose the best sailboat to live on, including:

• The type of sailing planned: coastal cruising over a few days, full-time sailing around the world, etc.
• The number of people who will live aboard: are you looking for a solo sailboat or navigating with family, friends?
• The key features you are looking at in a yacht: size, keel type, speed, performance, etc.
• The level of comfort you intend to have: interior space, furniture, layout, etc.

For the latter, the amount of sleeping space inside your boat plays an essential role. The number of cabins on a family cruiser generally depends on the number of crew members aiming to sleep onboard.

By cabin, we mean a space dedicated to sleep, equipped with cushions/upholstery suitable for two adults.

This space can be closed by a door, or a curtain, or even remain open, to connect with the saloon, for instance. The latter increases the perception of volume.

Traditionally, the fore cabin is dedicated to the owner, while the aft cabins are for the family and friends.

Other spaces onboard can also welcome crew members during a night watch, like saloon settees for instance.