3800 or just go big?

[cnewman92]

Hi everyone,
My wife and I have been looking at 3800’s and 38 Opens. This is to be our retirement boat, spending a couple of weeks at a time on it in South Florida and in the Bahamas.

I originally thought the 38 was perfect, but I’m starting to think extra room is probably a plus. Besides it being more money to operate and maintain, are there any other negatives to a 4200 or 4300? Purchase costs don’t seem to be a whole lot different.

Thanks,
Chuck

[jclark003]

All three are great boats so as long as you get a well maintained boat you really can’t go wrong. I went through the exact decision process with my last boat, first looking at a 38, then a 42 and finally settled in on a 43 because of the livability, sea keeping and ride comfort. My wife and I spent three weeks each season cruising and never felt cramped.

[GMahanna]

Go as big as you can comfortably operate. We "reached" and bought a 4700. Sea handling is amazing, plenty of room for guests and my wife loves it!

[hiccup]

I agree that bigger is better in a lot of ways. Negatives are obviously operating costs, but perhaps less obviously, ease of handling (e.g. docking single handed), availability of appropriately sized slips (how big of a negative this is depends on where you boat to/from), ease of getting hauled for hurricanes/other impromptu reasons, bigger typically means deeper draft, might limit where you can go.

In some places, there are big marinas with big slips and big equipment with plenty of space for big boats. In other places even a 38 is a big boat that can cause headaches.

If those negatives don't apply to you, and the cost isn't concerning, go bigger.

[Hifirush]

I agree with the sentiments here, go big as long as you. While I wasn't looking at the models you are looking at when I first started looking, I ended up going larger and have ZERO regrets. Originally I was looking at 3500 Opens. I wanted a hard top with diesels. The diesels were pretty easy to find, but sometimes they had soft tops on. I started looking at the 3800's and was sold. Diesels, hardtops and extra room. It wasn't really a stretch financially and I keep her behid the house, so I didn't have any issues with slipping her. It's an easy boat to single hand even in our notorious 15-20 MOPH wind we have everyday in the Corpus Christi area, which unfortunately slams right square into my port side up the canal. But, I have mastered getting put away! If you can swing a bigger boat, I doubt you will have any real regrets. Good luck with your decision.

[twilson0929]

I have the 3800 open. Spend at least a week a year and many weekends on it. I made the decision based on the fuel burn versus the 43’.

Don’t regret buying the 3800 because it is a great boat. May look at 4300 open myself. Could use the bunk room the 3800 doesn’t offer. Look forward to reading what you decide.