I think a good starter boat for you and your family might be a Hobie 18 with wings. A roller furling jib would allow you to easily de-power to sail it alone if main and jib prove to be more than you can handle alone. The wings will make it more comfortable for your family and you should be able to find one for a reasonable price. My first boat was a P16 but I think it's a bad choice for 2 or 3 crew due to space on the tramp and the weight making the bows plow thru the water. Greg