im an alloy man wont go past stabicrafts but my opinion is go the biggest you can afford you will out grow your first boat for sure

Thanks. I've heard others who own stablcrafts speak incredibly highly of them. I've already passed my initial preferred budget point with this short list...easy isn't it?! Two strokes seem to be out favour  these days. Are that really as noisy and thirsty as often claimed?

Any size Haines with a 4 stroke will be as good as it gets
Craig

Mixed use. Family of 4 adults/teens.
Glass  boat better ride comfort , espec for the lady members of the family..
Min for basic comfort space would be around 5.8m and around 6.2 comfortable


Probably 130HP but Totally confused by 2 vs 4 stroke.
Economic power requirement for 4 ppl   plus gear etc under 6m  around  140/150 hp with right prop.. under that less economic due to min or under powered... 130 bare min.. Good selection of prop makes very little difference between 2 and 4 stroke economy.. It is the power AT THE PROP that determines performance... not how the power gets to the gear box above it...be it hamsters running in a wheel or and internal combustion engine
Getting up to the 6/ 6.3 glass boat one moves into an efficient power range min 175 , more ideal around the 200 hp mark

Also note.. more modern design boats have smaller cabins to the older sea nymph commander style... a cabin on a buccaneer 635 is about the same size as a 18'  (5.8m) commander with less head room.

a 5.5 / 5.8M modern glass boat with fish 4 guys ok 3 guys comfortable....older boat 4 guys little cramped but ok, 3 guys nice.. due to the larger rear space.

Also keep in mind with teenagers...it is very soon they start having their own lives/ friends etc.. leaving u and the missus .. or u and m8s heading out on the water

4 stroke definitely quieter... modern 2 stroke not quite as quiet.. older 2 stroke get over cruise rpms and forget any natural conservation... then put that in perspective... cruising out to fishing spots 15/ 25 mins @ around 30 /35 mph.. (measure on google maps from where u put the boat in a and destinations)  anchor up or drift... couple minutes to re drift the line or maybe little longer to check out the next spot/ reef

Looking at New/near new for reliability and peace of mind.

A ball park budget would help further

Boat I brought was 6 months old and I saved a lot on new price - guy who sold to me took his wife and young boy out for first time after buying - she got sea sick and he sold it 6 months later - suggest you get family out in a few boats first to try.

I bought 4 different boats before getting one I liked.

Best advice I can give is to have a list of the "must haves" readily at hand when viewing prospective boats.  Anything more than that will be a bonus and don't get too hung up on people's comparisons between one style/brand versus another.  What you really need to know will be
1. How well a selected boat performs in flat and not so flat as well as rough water
2. What effect the wind has on the ride and how the boat feels at rest.
3. Whether the boat of choice can be easily towed behind your current vehicle
4. That the outboard has a good service history and is adequate for the size of the boat and the use you will put it to.
5. That the trailer has been well looked after with no corrosion issues.
Most of all, take your time over your search to make sure you get what you really want - now and for the future (as far as that can be predicted.)

the only way really is to try each one and see how they go as your needs will be different to any one else

Could consider a second hand boat with a new auxillary motor. That way you would get a combo of reliability and value.