Leopard 444 vs. Leopard 4800 for purchase

Looking into buying either a Sunsail 444 or Moorings 4800 and would love to hear the pros/cons of the two different Leopards. Besides the obvious 4 extra feet, so far I've noticed that the 4800 has doors in the showers and in the aft cockpit it seems to have a reversible back rest so you can be looking forward or aft. The 444 gets great reviews on sailing close to the wind. Thoughts?

Charter each before you make a decision?

I went through the same process that you are going through a few months ago. There are pros and cons to both boats. One interesting thing is tthat while the boats look like sister ships they were designed by two different designers. The hull design and shapes are very different. Simonis who designed the 4800 and also the Voyage line is noted to be more performance oriented.
I am not sure about the comment on the 444 sailing closer to the wind. It's generally not highly thought of in that regard. I believe the seat you mention switches on both boats. Access in and out of the front cockpit is much better on the 4800 with the steps and it has a nice navigation station oriented forward. The 444 has no nav station.
Both boats have basic electrical systems that will need to be modified if you decide to keep the boat out of charter. The 4800 has bigger main engines and generator. Both have identical fuel and water. 206 gallons on water and 185 gallons in fuel.
Neither boat is intercoastal capable with the mast height which can impact resale. The 444 is offered with a short rig that is legal but surprisingly the Moorings orders them with the tall rig. There is a large price difference between the boats. The 444 is a real bargain given the space on the boat relative to almost everything else out there. Both boats are built like tanks however that shows up in displacement.
I will PM you with more info.
I would also not discount Dream Yacht Charters who offer programs like the Moorings. You can order a boat with them a little closer to how a owner would spec a boat.

Need to purchase by end of the month and only one of us has time to go walk through them (but no time to charter one). Have chartered the Leopard 46 many times but those aren't part of the offer we are looking at.

Just wanted to comment on your mention of the 444 being better to windward. I've not sailed the 4800, but the 444 was terrible to windward, but you've got two engines to make VMG. The only other aspect of the 444 that I didn't like was that there were no separate/closable compartments in the bows to store luggage and other junk. One other thing, the sliding companionway door could not be secured in the open position while sailing due to inadequate pinning on the track. We had to tie it open or lock it and use the "front porch" door. Other than those things, we enjoyed the boat and it was great for our crew of 8. What fun you must be having to pick a boat to purchase!

May I ask what your plans are after the contract is over? or are you buying a used one and taking it out of charter?

So I'm not totally sure what the plan would be after the 5 year charter contract is over. My brother is doing the majority of the purchase of the boat and I would be a "partner." It is a brand new boat. I plan to move to the Caribbean in the next few years so one idea is that I could take care of the boat for him, maybe even live on it for a bit. Another idea is to put it back in charter with Footloose or another company.

Hey George, which tacks better the 444 or the 4800. We have had no issues with tacking the 444. Looking forward to sailing the 4800.

The 4800 is the best tacking cat I have sailed. I read a review where they claimed the boat would tack under main only. I was skeptical to say the least but it tacked great with no real need to back winded the jib. I was however sailing in smooth seas and light winds. The boat however would not point as high as a Voyage 440 but did better then I expected. I still need to learn the boat better. I will write a report after our NOV trip. There was no slap ever even the one high wind day where we reached only. Under those conditions the Voyage boat would slap your fillings out!
G