Starting to look at these as my boating needs have changed, would really like to hear what you guys have to say about them.

I have a 2006 38 EC since March of 2007. Absolutely love the boat. Had previously owned 292, 357 and 419 fastec formula's and the 38 EC seems to be a more solid boat. Really like the fact that the hull and deck are cored and glassed together at the seam. Running 496 HO Bravo III with top speed of 60 mph in Florida summer. Put on Bravo 1's and was at 65 mph, but the boat is a little harder to dock with the bravo 1's. Also, exteneral hydraulic steering and 380 k-planes are standard! Went to the boat as it has a ton of room for the family but still wanted to run fast. With the step hull, it runs really flat, not like most cruisers that seam to run bow high. The fountain anchor does not work very well, but the anchor locker is big enough for the fountain anchor (windless) and my fortress anchor. I use the boat primarily in salt water, but trailer and wash after every use. Only issue with 496's was a pressure guage that put the engine in guardian mode, took me a while to find the correct guage, but fixed myself. Powder coated windshield frame corroded pretty quick, took it apart, had it painted and not a problem since. My model year was the last with the separate front cabin, works for me the my wife as it gives us privacy when overnighting with the kids. Also, gives the kids a chance to get away from one another in the day. Finally, the extended transom platform is a must, really like that feature as we spend a lot of time off the back of the boat in the florida keys and tampa florida beaches. I think you can find some used ones at really fair prices, good luck. Oh, I usually get about 1.3 mpg at 40 mph cruise!

thanks for the reply. anybody else??

38 Express Cruiser test results http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_video.aspx?ID=272

Old thread but has anyone replaces anchor on the 38EC, the factory is useless.......i need a good anchor. mine
pulls all the time.

I just made a anchor chock for a dansforth anchor above my factory anchor in the locker. I needed to keep the factory anchor in place to avoid an ungly beak! Not as convenient as the factory, but your right, the factory anchor is hard to set and pulls lose from time to time.

There was a thread on here that a guy modified his stock fountain anchor to make it work. Mine is useless. Doesn't hold. Slides in sand and mud