I know there are some serious scarab lovers on this board, but every wellcraft I've ever been on has been a piece of crap.

I have not been on a 38 scarab though, maybe they paid better attention when they built them?

The Apache is a good pick if your loaded. It will cost 3 or 5 times more to maintain.

One of, not THE. Not only did they win races, they won championships.

Mid-70's thru early 80's, they were very succesful.

I'd go with the KV, much nicer looking with classic lines. Apache priced too high and will cost alot to maintain IMO, even though it also has great lines.

My 1979 Wellcraft was a tank. Still being used on the Georgian Bay. The current owner sends pics.

Something about the mid-late eighties and boats that were glassed in Florida. Too much powder and too many guys who didn't care. A guy who worked at Chris Craft at the time said that the molds were great, getting good glass crews to stay on a tab until it was completely glassed was another thing altogether.

Sorry, I should have quantified that with a year range. mid 80's through ? maybe early 90's even...

I agree with the year range that you suggest.
I think that you really need to triple check glass, transom, stringers and tabbing on anything from like 83 to 93.

Not that a person wouldn't have a boat surveyed anyway, but I think those were bad years for glass work.

Maybe you can help me out.
I am not sure whether I want to buy the Hunter 31, or the Catalina 30. This will be my first big sailboat.