cabin/cockpit difference in a 35 or 38
 

So I finally got the go ahead from the wife to upgrade from my 27 to a 35 or 38. We have a baby on the way and I want to make sure we have the safest and smoothest ride for him next summer. Also want the most cockpit and cabin room. What is the difference from the 35 to 38 I have only looked inside of a 35 never been in one ore even rode in one let alone a 38. It looks like from pictures I have seen online that most of them have a sink and bathroom. Its hard to tell the difference in cabin and cockpit size from the pictures. Any help would be great. Thank you all!!!

Here''s a few pics from my old 38. Might give you an idea..
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If you want the most cabin and cockpit room of the two the 38 is a no brainer. Many have told me the 38 compared to a 35 seems like a lot more than 3 ft.

38 up until 2000 were fevers, which have even more cockpit and cabin room because of width, however they so not have the walk around like the 2000 plus lightning.

The 2000 plus will be faster with steps, the 2002 plus models have even buggers steps and are the current bottom.

There are much rommier boats in this size, but few if any perform to the level of the fountain for overall speed and safety. From a 27 the 35 or 38 will be night and day difference in both size and wave handling.

Ok, Ron... now you've done it.. how long before the Cig guys come out to contest your last comment...:food-smiley-007:

Had a 2000 35 and a 2006 38. The V berth in the 38 is longer, in the area around the couches there isn't much difference. What is different is the 38 cabin is deeper, you notice that the most when you go into it. Not deep enough that you will be able to stand straight up in either one but deeper. The bathroom is the same size on both boats.

The couches in a 38 are definitely longer, long enough for shorter people to sleep on :D The headroom in the 38 is substantial to a 35. And I agree, the bed is bigger as well.

Cockpit is pretty close, but the 38 engine room is a huge difference

35 cabin

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My 38

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My 35 is a 2008, my buddy had a 2007 38. His had electric rear drop down bolsters, mine did not. My cockpit was actually larger than his because of this, I think (more rear seat room). His cabin was larger of course. Both are staggered Lightnings BTW.

2007 plus 38 were full staggered option vs 2002-2006 semi stag. This pushed the back seat forward and made the cockpit small. They also offered a full stag 35 in the later years 2008 plus, does the same thing to the cockpit.

You may want to also look at the twin step side by side 35's. They had a different cabin.

We have a older 38 fever, upgraded from a 26 nova when our son was born. The 38 fever has a much larger cockpit that the 35/38 lightings. I had thought about upgrading to a mid 90's stagerred42 lightning , even my wife had noticed how much more cramped the cockpit was compared to out 38 fever. The walk around would be nice, but we really like the space. I can jump over the fairing, my wife chooses to pop through the hatch for docking. Our son who is now 6 yrs old can still sleep on the couch/settee.

The extra width in the fever is nice, but like you said so is the walk around on the lightning. Two people can cross in between the bolsters in a fever, not an option in a lighting. However the lightning bottom is far superior. The fever also has more room front to back in the cockpit, because a semi stag set up was never and option

There are a few early 2000 lightning bottoms with fever tops on the market, slick set up with the best of both worlds and the added head room of the later models vs the older fevers.

A staggered or short stagger 38 Lightning cockpit will be real close to that of the side by side 35 Lightning. Cabin space of the 38 is noticeably larger than that of the 35, as noted above. If you are talking the '07 and newer 35 staggered boats the cockpit as well as the cabin is tight compared to either of the above boats. If you throw the 35 EX single step into this mix it will fit in with the 35 Lightning side by side boats, lower profile will show in the cabin head room but other than that they are real close.

If cockpit space is the big deal then look for an older 38 Fever.

Now that we have you thoroughly confused, just take some road trips and look at all of them, plusses and minuses to each model, not a bad one in the bunch IMO!!!

Thanks everybody for the input. I have been looking and there seems to be a lot of 35's out there. The 38's are out there just not as many. I hope to sell my boat soon so when I do find one I can make the move.

Send me a message if you are interested in a real clean 38. with 575's chillers 100mph safe reliable boat. I am thinking about changing things up.

More headroom and larger cabin in 38. 35 has standard refrigerator and vacuflush (SP?) head. Wife and looked at both 35 and 38. The 38 also had a sink in the enclosed head. The semi staggered engines in the 38 looked easier to work on. Good luck with your decision.

We'll I sold the 27 yesterday, contingent on a survey. Which I am about a 100% sure there will be no problems. I have my eye on a 2000 38 fever that KEITER has for sale on here. Hopefully everything will play out and I can make it down there in the next couple weeks. Summer is coming !!! Thanks for all the info