Yeah, I can certainly see the advantage of the E35 layout. The traditional interior can feel pretty short on space, compared to an L- or U-shaped dinette. On the other hand, there's no replacement for a great midships pilot berth on an overnight sail, and both layouts of the T33 appear to incorporate one or two.
I'd think either would be fine for cruising around up here. You certainly want to do your best not to go flying into a ledge at 7 knots, but I don't think the possibility is reason not to have an externally mounted keel. I wouldn't want to sail with a real high-aspect keel, that could really stress the hull at the front and back of the keel in the case of a grounding, but the reality is that a well-built boat with a moderate fin keel takes the occasional bump just fine.
The E has a spade rudder, but the tartan probably has a skeg, is that right? That seems to be more common on Tartans. That will help avoid grounding damage, and (perhaps more importantly) makes it hard for a pot warp to get stuck between the top of the rudder and the hull. I find pot warps to be a much more common concern than running aground. There are plenty of ledges, but in my experience they are well charted, and (even this far east) well marked. Pay attention to where you are, and grounding should be less common than in the shifting sands of the Chesapeake, for instance.
One thing I like about the Tartans, is that they have a removeable headliner, with battens, allowing full and easy access to the underside of the deck for maintenance and additions.
Where do you think you might move to? We just moved up to Ellsworth from Boston a little over a year ago.
