More and more people are telling me that I am over my head, when I am looking for a larger boat to have a comfortable live-aboard layout. As a newbie, I am bitten by the large boat ' bug ', but it is changing. Many of the boats I looked were in the 50-55' range. Since my budget is tight, this results only very old, or very 'needy' boats. Reading the forum, I learn that smaller is better, when it comes to boats. OK, so I accept it. I do agree, the newer boat I can buy, the less headache I would possibly inherit. So, the latest direction is to find a boat with a strait layout inside. What I mean is, to have the salon, galley, settee, even the staterooms, at the same level. I am reading Mr. Pascoe's books now and at one his surveys he also burst out that the going up and down layouts are frustrating and he also prefers strait walkthrough arrangements. I tend to agree with him. My reasoning is, if the layout is strait, it looks more spacious, so a smaller size boat can be accommodating enough for live-aboard, even if the space has a tight feeling. Am I going wrong about this? Educate me, please! lol