A family boat has a harder job than it looks like it has. It needs to keep younger kids safely seated, give swimmers easy access to the water, hold enough gear for a full day out, and still leave room for everyone to relax once the anchor goes down. The layout of the boat decides how well it handles all of that at once, more than its size alone.
Italian boatbuilders have spent decades refining exactly this kind of layout, and EuroYacht Sales in Longueuil carries three models that solve the family day-boat problem in different ways. Comparing how each one handles cockpit flow, cabin access, and onboard safety makes it easier to figure out which layout actually fits your crew.
What Makes a Layout Family-Friendly?
Three things separate a boat that works well for a family from one that just happens to have enough seats. The first is safe, easy movement around the deck, so kids can move between the cockpit and the bow without climbing over people or gear. The second is a place to retreat, whether that means a shaded bimini or a small cabin, for sun breaks, changing, or a quiet moment away from the group. The third is storage that keeps wet gear, towels, and watersports equipment out of the way of the seating area.
Every boat in this comparison handles those three needs differently, which is exactly why the right choice depends on how your family actually spends a day on the water.
Comparing the Three Layouts
| Feature | Capoforte CX240 | Capoforte FX270 | Italmar IT-WA22 |
| Length | 24.3 ft (7.4 m) | 26.5 ft (8.1 m) | 21.3 ft (6.5 m) |
| Seating | 8 passengers | 10 passengers | 8 passengers |
| Cabin | Full cabin | Cabin with marine toilet | Cabin with toilet, shower, fridge |
| Deck access | Convertible cockpit seating | Walk-around cockpit, convertible seating | Side decks, walk-around |
| Best for | Compact cabin comfort | Watersports and larger groups | Swimmer access and short trips |
Capoforte CX240: Compact Cabin Comfort
The CX240 packs a genuine cabin into a 24.3-foot (7.4 m) hull, powered by a Yamaha 250 HP outboard and rated for eight passengers. The driver’s seat has a tiltable backrest that converts into a bench facing the stern, turning the helm area into extra social seating once the boat is anchored. The aft couch folds out into a full sunpad, and a compact disappearing bimini deploys quickly if the weather turns.
For families who want cabin space without stepping up to a larger boat, the CX240’s cockpit lockers keep wet gear contained, and the stern outdoor shower handles rinsing off before heading back inside.
Capoforte FX270: Room to Grow Into Watersports
The FX270 is EuroYacht’s newest Capoforte model, a 26.5-foot (8.1 m) day boat built on a deep-V hull and rated for up to 10 passengers. Power comes from twin Yamaha 200 HP outboards or a single outboard up to 350 HP, giving families room to grow as kids get more confident behind the boat.
The cockpit features convertible sun lounges and a private cabin with a marine toilet, useful for longer outings. An optional water-skiing bar and fishing package mean the same boat can pivot between teaching a child to wakeboard in the morning and a calmer group cruise in the afternoon.
Italmar IT-WA22: Walkaround Access for Swimmers
The IT-WA22 takes a different approach: a 21.3-foot (6.5 m) walkaround hull with narrow side decks running the full length of the boat. That layout matters most for families with younger swimmers, since it lets an adult move safely from the cockpit to the bow to help kids in and out of the water without climbing over seating.
Below deck, the cabin includes a separate toilet room, a sink with a one-burner stove, and a 42-litre electric fridge, useful for keeping snacks and drinks cold during a full day out. An optional stern platform makes water entry and exit easier for younger or less confident swimmers.
A Day on the Richelieu
The Richelieu River corridor, running from the St. Lawrence south through Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu toward Lake Champlain, is well suited to family day trips. The water is calmer and more sheltered than the open St. Lawrence shipping channel, with marked navigation and marinas spaced along the route.
Marina Gosselin, a family-run marina on the river’s south shore near Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix, sits in a stretch of the Richelieu known locally as Quebec’s nautical capital, close to Lake Champlain. Further north, Marina St-Tropez functions almost like a day resort, with kayak and personal watercraft rentals that give kids something to do even when the main boat is anchored for lunch. Both make natural stopping points for a family outing, no matter which layout you’re running.
Which Layout Fits Your Family?
For a family that wants a compact, comfortable cabin boat without stepping into a larger hull, the CX240 hits that balance. For a group with older kids who are ready to try wakeboarding or need seating for ten, the FX270 has the space and power to grow with them. And for families with younger swimmers who need constant, safe access between the cockpit and the water, the IT-WA22’s walkaround layout does that job better than either Capoforte model.
Talk to the Team at EuroYacht Sales in Longueuil
Seeing these layouts in person is the best way to know which one fits how your family actually boats. The team at EuroYacht Sales in Longueuil can walk you through the CX240, FX270, and IT-WA22 side by side and help you compare them for your own crew.