scale

I am looking at picking up a set of Schwalbe Marathon for an older t trek hybrid touring bike i am building up. I have built up the exact same model using 700x38 and it was just a mm away from the fender or so at the fork crown. The tires are really tall.

Curious to know if 700x35 would be much shorter..?? If it isnt id rather stick with the larger tires just because they seem more comfortable/versatile over the long haul and try and deal with the lack of clearance. In my previous build i have had sticks and even small stones get stuck in the tread and actually hit the fender at the crown. I dont suspect that little of clearance is great once you are out on tour. SOmtehing about that spells disaster...and it seems it could be avoided.