I'll revive this thread because I too have some decisions to make. I have time before I am targeting pulling the trigger, but it can take time to mull things over. Having the time to do that is an advantage.
In my case, its east coast. Chesapeake home waters, but that may shift to some unknown parts south as MD seems intent on driving me away with taxes and the common blue state issues. Its home, but its a tough contest between the need to go vs the will to stay.
Either the 43 or 38 seem to work fine for The Loop. But that's not really a primary ambition. There are parts of that journey I'd love to do, and others where it would be just putting in the miles to get the pennant and bragging rights to say I did it.
Instead, I expect my focus to be Maine to Florida, possibly up into Canada, plus more likely the Caribbean. Which leads to my questions for updated information.
I can evaluate my own needs for cabin space vs cost and so forth.
The cost differential is now $150K. There's a strong push to the 38.
Along the ditch, less is more. The draft of the 43 is 4.5 and on the 38 its 4. The two foot-itis nibbles at draft as you nibble off more boat. Deeper sailboats do it, so its all do-able. But commentary on how much is too much would be welcomed.
Ditto on any commentary of length. LOA is 41 vs 45. How much practical difference does that make today with marina availability, etc?
I'll definitely have AC. And therefore a generator. So I'm leaning electric in the galley, having followed the arguments back and forth on that. The convincer is recent comments I have seen about reduced availability of propane in parts of the ICW, and some issues in the caribbean. Overblown? Maybe. Comments?
Where I really draw blanks is I have no experience in FL or the caribbean. What setup items are especially important to consider? And we are talking about some runs where running outside is either mandatory or desireable, often with some distances between the good inlets. These are not speedboats so solving distance with speed / fuel burn isn't an option.
These are intentionally pretty open questions so wandering off a bit would be just as welcomed. I took the time to lay out the cruising grounds so that focus could be considered.
One more thing: I hear comments the "back door" to the engine room via the day head in the 38 is used and liked, or rarely used at all. If you have it, do you use it? If you don't, do you miss it?
And one more last thing. Really. Stern thrusters. My impression is they are not necessary on the 38, and add more cost and servicing than value. Comments? And I don't recall any commentary on this for the 43, so input there would be great.
Thanks in advance for comments.