If you are planning on hitting the costal rivers after a while, get an alum boat. They will hold up better. I agree that you don't want to skimp on oars, get Cataract if you can afford them because if your oar breaks you'll likely be in trouble, no matter how good you are. I would also agree that a 54 inch bottom is a great option. A 16 foot boat should be ok, and there are alot more of them around to find one used. Unless you are planning on hauling the 2 kids and wife when the kids are 14, a 16 foot boat should be pleanty. Be sure that the kids have been instructed on how to self rescue and how to swim to shore (feet down river in rapids etc) an hour or two spent teaching some basic saftey stuff could prevent a disaster. Also don't take them the first few times you go. You'll have pleanty to pay attention to. You may want to look into getting a trailer level indicator (avail at any RV store) to put in the front of the boat. New passengers, and espicially kids, have a tendancy to throw the boat out of trim by shifting their weight. This can screw up your rowing big time. The level indcator can be used to help them keep the boat level. As a final note teach them about watching out for heaters, a Mr. Heater can burn alot of skin in a hurry if one isn't careful. Good luck!