well, if you need the space you will enjoy the larger boat. why do you want an express after owning a flybridge ? less stairs, no bridge clearance issue BUT make sure you can adapt to the cave feeling on the express.
i don't think it's accurate to compare brand x to brand Y and it usually results in long threads about which is better, often based on current observation. Rewind to the 96-98 time frame and i cna tell you that the large maxum were actually better than the comparable sea ray. this is based on my comparison when i went shopping in that size range.
among the + on the maxum size was metal thruhull above waterline vs plastic, corian counter vs formica, real nice and safe foredeck with integral pulpit, and a few things i forgot. Most importantly, the maxum 37 and 41 SCRs had terrific engine rooms where everything was accessible.
i ended up buying a new 98 3700 SCR, very similar to the 4100. the other boat at the top of my short list was the regal 42, it may have been a notch about the maxum quality wise but it was close. it was a little bigger than i wanted to go from a 25 footer too.
the built quality of the maxum really impressed me... i never had a single issue with the boat during the 6 years i had it (i said boat, therefore excluding the defective mercruiser vee drives replaced under warranty). there was very little to complain about the boat, never leaked a single drop of water inside, bolted deck/hull joint, larger beefy stringers and reinforcement on the hull sides. a few months after i got it, we had a strong tropical storm and the railing ended up banging on the top of my forward pilings (narrow exposed slip). the rail bent upward by about 6 or 8" but the stanchion based never cracked or leaked...
I also liked the open layout of the cabin which feels much bigger thanks to the lack of a fixed partition for the stateroom. htis means a little less privacy but when it just a couple and maybe a couple of kids, it's not an issue.
the maxum rode very well, it's a heavier than average boat and the 37 had a slightly above average deadrise. still, it's probalby not going to ride like a hatt or bertram but it's going to be better than other flatter lighter boats (carver, silverton, etc...)
www.yachtsurvey.com has a review of the 46. different boat, but same construction ,quality.
and if you decide to keep a flybridge afterall, check out the 41 and 46 SCB, real good boats !
