If you are looking for a family cruiser that will be very durable and will also work when your kids get older the Getaway is a nice compromise boat. You can still fly a hull and single trap. The plastic hulls are virtually mainenece free. There is quite a bit of room and more paylod than other beach cats. The hulls have more volume to accommodate the extra load. You can fit 4 adults on it comfortably.

That said, what kind of sailing will you be doing most of the time? Will it be the whole family or you and one or both of your children?

If it is not going to be all 4 of you, the H16 will be a great boat for a long time. It is simple, yet can be challenging. You have plenty of perfomance. It can easily be sailed solo or by your children. It is light enough to be dragged around the beach by one good sized person.

The TheMightyHobie18 is not a bad choice, but it is a heavier boat than the H16 and can be very cumbersome. Plus you have the added complexity of the dagger boards. Not a bad thing, just one more thing to remember when coming into the beach.

Then there is the price issue. The Getatway: multiple thousands of dollars. The H16 can be had for less than $1000 on a trailer ready to sail. The TheMightyHobie18 for about $1500 on a trailer ready to sail.

I would reccommend getting a ride on each of the models you are interested in. This way you can see what will work for you.