The one I nearly bought was a 43.
I don't care for the 46, to be honest. Both the 43 and 46 were produced with the 6-71s. There were a few that had 6V92s in them - those are the engines you want - not the 671s.
They're ok for the 43, but most are set up at 485, and that's not a good rating at all. You need to cut 'em back to 410ish, which is going to eat into your top speed; with the 46 you won't like the results.
If I remember correctly (its been 6 years or so) 1988 was when the hull change went in. You want the later hull - it rides MUCH better. I've been in both and the difference is big.
You'll find that the POST is missing a lot of things that the Hatt has. For instance, it has a split 30/125V electrical system, instead of the 50A with isolation transformer that's in the Hatt. It doesn't have internal sea strainers. The systems are MUCH simpler - and less complete. The OEM head system was the Galley Maid which people either love or hate, depending on how many times they've had the pump eat a stator, where the Hatts had Vacuflush heads.
On the other hand the entire floor in the salon is HINGED and comes up in about 30 seconds full beam for engine maintenance. This has to be the easiest midsize sportfish I've ever been on in terms of engine access.
I do not like the ladder to the bridge on these - it is not at a constant angle, but has an articulation about 1/3 of the way up, and part of it is built out of the fiberglass tackle center on the port side. That'd be the first thing I'd change; I kept bashing my shins or head trying to negotiate it. IMHO that's a serious design problem. The side decks are also quite narrow and treacherous in a nasty sea - HANG ON TIGHT! That's the price for all the interior room that POST gives you....
There is no cofferdam of significance around the forward overhead hatches. I personally like how Hatteras built theirs with a nice tall lip to keep water splashing (or laying) on the foredeck from ending up in the stateroom. That's missing on the POST (to be fair, its also missing on the Vikings!)
The interior on the 43s has an odd overhang at the steps forward down into the galley/stateroom area. You swear you're going to bash your head - but you don't. Its quite disconcerting though the first few times you negotiate that stairway.....
Other thing to be aware of is that the alarm system is very, very sparse. These boats badly need a good alarm panel added, for all the obvious reasons.
The wiring is just "so-so" in my experiience on these - its not a Hatteras. Its not BAD, but I'm spoiled..... Also POST has a habit of putting the genset up against the forward ER bulkhead, which is IMHO one of the worst possible places for it in terms of noise transmission - and most do not have hushboxes. Unless its been retrofitted with a modern generator, you're probably going to want to address that.
The ones I looked at were all solid fiberglass hulls, including above the waterline, where Hatt is cored above the waterline. They're also quite light for their size and will SCOOT. The payback for that is that they don't have the heavy sea handling of a Hatteras, and when you get caught out in the nasty stuff, you're going to know it.
The ones I've seen also had straight exhausts (!), which makes them very loud behind. Not so bad up on the bridge or inside - but man, if you're 100' behind the boat when one of these lights off, it sounds like someone lit off a string of firecrackers right next to your head - a very, very long string.....
They're nice boats and Yachtworld has a handful of nice-looking ones on the market right now. I'd definitely give them a look-see, but be aware - you're giving up the Hatteras ride.
