[Fr. Frank]

With full fuel tank I can run at 30 kt cruise for about 4 hours, which has gotten me all the way to Siesta Key from Crystal River in the Gulf of Mexico, about 104 statute miles in 1-3 foot seas. When fueling at Siesta Key, I took on 38.8 gallons of fuel. (Yes, I carry a 12 gal. portable fuel tank)
My Merc 200 has a Bob's nose cone, without the lower water inlet, and I am swinging a custom designed PropTech SS prop, overall pitch is 16.75 inches with a 14.85 inch diameter, and a 12.5 degree progressive rake change from leading to trailing edge, and max blade surface width of 5.5 inches . It is heavily cupped from hub to outer edge, and angle of attack decreases sharply in outer 2.5 inches of radiusing to lessen ventilation/cavitation. The prop design is by a friend who once worked at Second Effort Marine engineering o/b props for a living. (But it's not much different than a Mercury Mirage II)
My max RPM, trimmed out, light on fuel, and just me in the boat is 6100 rpm @ 43.2 Kts. (Very little slippage there.) Max RPM with normal loading - 4 people, rods, coolers, full fuel + extra tank, etc., is 5750 rpm @38.4 kts.
And no, it doesn't plane real fast when loaded.
I do wonder how fast it will be when I put the four stroke 225 on and paint the bottom again.