I went thru the same debate.. hell you can read about most.

I debated a scarab 302 CC, 29ol, Baja 302, and my ultimate goal of a 33ol to really handle the rough water in our lake and the gulf.

Wanted a 30ft or really at least 29 ft wetted surface.. we go out in the gulf to ship island and usually only boat.. = 2 engines.

I have a 4 and a 7 yr old that don't like the rough and wanted some cockpit space..

I found a 302 scarab with 300xs's and was about to put an offer and wife decided she wanted a sunpad..

So we started looking at 29 ol b/c Baja 302 are scarse with mags and windscreen..

Then I found a deal on my boat.. shy of 40. Good vinyl that was redone at some point.. still firm.. and NEW 454 mags with only 12 hrs..
Plenty of cockpit space and enclosed head for kids and women...

so both times you use it you will be comfortable!!

your not funny Mike!! We will be able to use it more now b/c Robin isnt' scared to cross lake in this one!!:lolhit:

Made the jump last year from a Baja 252 / 454Mag to a Baja 342 / T/496 Mags.

the room, and aminities are night and day, let alone the bigger boat ride. the fuel bill is more though... and everything you work on is 2X the price as you going to do it 2 times. but so far, love my move.

I'd buy the biggest boat you can afford and tow/store.

Once you go to two engines your maintenance/repairs are the same whether you have twin 502's in a 30 or twin 502's in a 38.

When I bought by boat home I thought it was the biggest thing in the world. Now I look at it and think how small it is. You get very used to it VERY quickly.

I also think you're talking right in the length range where a couple extra feet really create a measurable ride improvement as it relates to spanning waves. Just my .02.

This is so true, when I pulled up to my 342, it was the first time i had seen one on a trailer. Me and my buddy where like, OH ****, thats going to be a *****. and now i dont think a think about it. seems normal.

and I agree at the point of 30 feet, 3-5 feet extra is not going to change ANYTHIHNG about trailing it. just more room when floating.

I bet the drive thru ladies at McDonald's were like WTF when you drove thru!! Lol

haha they do give you some wierd looks! and then ask if i catch alot of fish! haha

Glad to see I'm not the only one that tows through the drive through!
If you can fit it in your yard at home there isn't much of a difference in cons going from 30-40'. Only problem I've had was docking at a couple bars on the bay didn't have room for me, about 43' with the platform, where as 28-32 would have been able to fit.

I hate when people ask me about fish, I give them the "you're the idiot of the year look"
Seriously, here in az we have some mountain based lakes. I am over the length limit on those windy roads.