Are the boats serious contenders for your trip.  Absolutely.  We

Barb & Don, I agree these are two totally different boats. Let me also qualify my answer up front by saying I own a Selene 53. We are currently in the Caribbean (Tortola) after having done the Pacific Northwest to AK through Central America, the Panama Canal, and across the top of South America going east/wrong way all in the company of a 43' Selene with NO active/passive stabilization, nor was it equipped with a "get home" option. When we were looking for a trawler after our sail crossing of the Atlantic we looked at the KK42. There is not the living space we had on our sailboat and we are full time cruisers. This seemed counter intuitive to our plans to "move up" The Selene 47 has much more space than the KK42. Regarding fuel. The route you mentioned through the canal is easily done for anybody that can make 750 miles or more. Both boats will get you closer to 3 times that range. I've done the trip twice and have not had any issues with sourcing GOOD fuel. Cockpit area. Our next boat may not have a fly bridge or at least it won't be a consideration. We spend most of our outdoor time in the cockpit. In the PNW we enclosed it and used it as a second living space. We spent one winter in Seattle and another in Victoria B.C. In fact we have prioritized this area as a must for the "next boat". In the winter the F/B, unless it would be enclosed, is just not practical. In the tropics the winds can be bothersome. When lounging or entertaining it is just so comfortable to walk in and out to the galley/saloon from the cockpit we wouldn't do it any other way. Air draft. Double check your route and measure your final selection carefully. When in Europe you would definitely want some sort of heat as well. We lived on our sailboat in northern Europe and we enjoyed the warmth as well as the hot water. Stabilizers. Some boats have them installed for comfort while others require them for safety. The hull form of the Selene lends itself to be very quick but also very stable. I don't feel they would be required on the Selene but I can only say your trip will probably be more enjoyable with them. I can add here that a retro on a used boat for passive stabilizers needs to be looked at. To date I don't think any Selenes have done this. It has been strictly active. Are the boats serious contenders for your trip. Absolutely. We see every type of boat imaginable tracing our route. Is the KK hull superior? Probably more fuel efficient but that is really not an issue. (Fuel purchases will never be your top expense, even at $4-$5/gal) At the end of the day you need to decide: - What provides you a platform you can live comfortably in for extended periods. We don't find our boat a compromise at all and truly enjoy our time aboard. -You also need to have space to service your equipment. When you are cruising life is a string of projects. The more difficult it is to inspect and repair the more neglected it will become. -When you drive away with your dingy and look back at the boat you must be able to say "She looks great!" If not you will never bond with boat and build a confidence level to achieve your goals. Good luck and enjoy the process. Les & Rosemary Dobbe "Voyager" Selene 5334 **I will add a note regarding value and resale. We really considered some one off's when making our purchase decision but realized that a production boat offers the best "value" out there. If you choose a recognized production boat your resale opportunities will be much more enhanced.