Welcome to the board Alan; my best advice would be to talk to as many Outerbanks owners as you can and make sure it's what you and your family really want. That's no slouch ride you have now and I think the Blackman's are a little more "Commercial Duty" than your current boat and a Pilothouse reaffirms that feeling, something your wife might balk at. But you can't go wrong with Blackman !