Creature Comforts: People, Pets, and Sleeping Arrangements
When you start looking at the internal layout of these boats, you realize that "sleeps six" is a technical specification, not necessarily a lifestyle recommendation. There is a meaningful difference between how many people can technically fit on the boat and how many can stay on it for a week without wanting to throw each other overboard.
It is also important to recognize that what one person finds very comfortable is cramped for someone else. If you enjoy tent camping or even a small camper trailer, you will find the smaller boats very comfortable even for extended stays. If you prefer “glamping,” where “glamping” means the local Westin, you’ll likely want to look at one of the diesel boats. If you primarily intend to use the boat for fishing, your perfect boat will be different than if you want to spend extended times on anchor.
Here is how capacity and sleep arrangements break down across the fleet. Keep in mind, my definition of “comfortable [adult|kids]” may not match yours.
The R-23 & R-25: The Camper Boats
In the R-23 and R-25, you are looking at a boat primarily designed for a couple, possibly with small children, and occasionally one additional adult. If you like camping, you will love these.
The Mid-berth ("The Cave"): The height of the mid-berth is a critical differentiator:
R-25: The mid-berth is approximately 19” tall. This makes it a viable sleeping space for a guest or a determined adult.
R-23: The mid-berth is only 12” tall. At this height, it serves primarily as deep storage or a "kid-only" zone. For an adult, ingress and egress are challenging.
Note for Pet Owners: Many owners find that "The Cave" is actually the perfect place for a dog bed or a crate. It keeps your four-legged crew member tucked away in a safe "den" and out of the main aisle while you are moving around the cabin.
The other major difference between these boats is the nature of the head. In the R-23, it is not enclosed. That means that at night, there is no privacy using it when the V-berth is occupied. In the R-25, you get a full wet head, so you actually have some privacy. The R-23 is great for a young couple with small children, provided you’re willing to sacrifice some privacy. The R-25 is probably the better choice for a couple with one older child.
The R-27: The Family Transition Boat
With the R-27, you get more room to move around. However, the mid-berth is significantly tighter than on the R-25. Because the floor of the cabin is raised to accommodate larger fuel tanks, the headroom in the mid-berth is only 12 inches—identical to the R-23.
This means that on the R-27, the mid-berth will likely end up as storage space or a dog den. Only a small child will likely find it comfortable for any length of time. However, you do get far better cooking arrangements: a propane cooktop with three burners and an oven. The rest of the boat and the larger capacities support more people for the same amount of time, or the same number of people for longer.
The R-29 & R-31: The "Two-Couple" Trawlers
The R-29 has an improved mid-berth over the smaller boats. Because the diesel engine sits lower, the mid-berth is much taller and wider (due to the 10’ beam). This makes it more viable for hosting another adult couple, like adult children.
For the owner couple, the sleeping arrangements are significantly improved with an island bed instead of a V-berth—no more crawling over each other at 3 AM to visit the facilities. The R-29 also moves away from the wet head, offering a dedicated enclosed shower space.
If you want to host another adult couple regularly, you would prefer the R-31. You get an actual second stateroom and a "Day Head."
The R-43: The Floating Suite Liveaboard
The R-43 is the only boat in the lineup that feels like a true two-bedroom apartment. You have two private staterooms, each with its own ensuite head and shower. The forward ensuite head features a separate shower.
You also get much more seating space in the salon. If your clothes get dirty or you fall in the drink, there is a washer/dryer hidden underneath the salon table! This boat is designed for extended liveaboard use. On the R-43, the heads are freshwater flush, which eliminates the "saltwater stink" common in raw-water heads but increases your daily freshwater consumption math.
Cabin Layout
The R-23, R-25, and R-31 have the galley on the starboard side (dinette on port). The R-27 and R-29 are "reversed," with the galley on the port side and the helm/dinette on the starboard. This means that on the R-27 and R-29, and on the R-43, you can be close to your cruising partner while underway, if that is an advantage for you. On the R-27 and R-29 this also means that anyone sitting at the dinette underway is actually behind the captain.
On the R-43, the galley and the dinette are both on the port side. The helm features two separate captain’s chairs.
Cockpit
The cockpit (the outside area at the back of the boat) gets progressively larger as you go up in size:
R-23/R-25: Nearly identical. Great for fishing due to the open layout and lack of bimini supports. The R-25 transom platform is superior for fighting fish as it wraps around the engine. Note that if you opt for the factory dinghy lift, it will block your access to this platform for fishing.
R-27: Larger, accommodates a table, and includes a sink/wine fridge and a standard Kenyon electric grill. However, bimini support rods can interfere with fishing.
R-29: Benefits from the 10' beam, allowing seats on both sides and a refrigerator.
R-31: Includes very nice expanding seats integrated into the gunwales, and a permanent table. This is the first boat that truly accommodates entertaining in the cockpit.
R-43: Massive space, covered by a hardtop, with rotating rear seats. A major lifestyle advantage may be the inclusion of side-boarding doors (starboard side). If you have a large or older dog, or captain, these doors can make getting on and off the boat much easier. They allow pets to walk directly from the dock onto the boat floor, avoiding the precarious climb over the transom required on the outboard models.
Galley
R-23: Sparse. Small sink, single-burner cooktop, and microwave. There is no factory option for an electric grill on this model. You may want to add a propane grill.
R-25: Similarly sparse internal layout (single-burner, microwave), but it introduces the option for a Kenyon electric grill in the cockpit. We used ours a lot more than the cooktop.
R-27/R-29/R-31: Two-burner propane stove and an oven. Significant storage upgrade.
R-43: Home-rivaling galley with a three-burner propane stove. Double sink, half-size fridge/freezer, and two additional fridges under the dinette.
The R-31 Design
One note: the R-31 is the oldest design in the current lineup. It features separate windshield sections with wood trim and uses plastic panels for the shower enclosure rather than the rotating surrounds found on the R-29 and R-43. Some people really like this design, and others may prefer the R-29's more modern look.
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