Thought I'd also add my $.02 to this debate since we went through it a few years ago and are living with (and on!) our decision. As full-time cruisers we had a pretty good idea of the type of boat we wanted and comfort was right at the top of the list. We settled on an '87 Marine Trader Tradewinds 43 Sundeck that fit our needs and budget. These were MT's venture into a more motor yacht style boat from their traditional trawler and seems so far to have been very well made. The hull is a semi-planing design, with a 15' beam, but with twin 210 Cummins (and all the other accumulated weight) she won't climb on plane but is still pretty easy through the water. Some were made with 275 Lehman's and they'll do 16 knots. We typically cruise at 1900 rpm's at 9 knots burning 5.7 gph including genset hours. With this design she'd sure not particularly a great sea boat in a beam sea and anything over 3 foot seas on the transom she's quite a handful - as most semi-displacement boats are. Being able to cruise at 9 knots vs. 6.5-7 knots is a real advantage. Our cruising lifestyle is to run the AICW from the Chesapeake to the Keys and back every year and we virtually never go outside. Making 50 miles a day is usually an easy 5-6 hours and we generally get to the anchorages or marinas and have cocktails waiting for other trawlers we travel with. When the weather looks to be snotty we don't go. It's all about keeping the Admiral happy....right!! My hot button was a large salon, with no built ins, that we could make into a real living space. I did not want to be forced to spend hours sitting at a dinette table. We have a sofa and two recliners, satellite TV & radio, galley down with dinette, full king size Select Comfort in the master, decent sized shower and are virtually self sufficient wherever we go. We love our big screened sundeck and the different levels in the boat. No steep ladders to the bridge and only three or fours steps down to the salon and the galley. As has been said, all boats are a compromise and you'll simply find techniques and gear that work for you. Early on we were really concerned about docking with the sundeck and the steep ladder down to the swim platform. We got a great tip early on and now we keep our two aft docklines on their cleats and led in thru the center doorway. That way my wife can handle the spring and forward lines and all I have to do is throw whichever stern line I need to a dockhand. The real key for us has been to learn using spring/breast lines to get us snugged to a dock and them leisurely finish tying the rest. I call our Tradewinds the perfect 90-10 boat. It does what we want really well about 90% of the time and the other 10% you just make do. Works fine for us!! Jim @Home Currently in Baltimore