Great project and I am looking forward to pictures.
I have a 25ft Bertram FBSF with a single 225hp Optimax. I cruise at 25mph and top out with a light load at 40mph. I think that you will be able to match those with your hull and a 300hp easily. Its all about set up and propping.
I have fished with 6 adults, 80 gallons of fuel and full gear without problem and that is on a 25ft boat with 10ft beam and a flybridge.
The engine will be fine and last just as long as any other engine. An outboard does not know if it is on a 40ft barge swinging a 11pitch prop at 4000rpm or a 20ft speedboat swinging a 25pitch prop at 4000rpm. As long as your treat your engine correctly it will last just as long. If 4000rpm = 24mph then so be it. The only reason that engine dies quicker on a heavier single boat is because the owner tries to go faster and cruises at higher rpm to make up for the lack in power.
I have seen a water taxi in the carribean, a 28ft Bertram flybridge with a single 250hp Yamaha that ran just fine, day in and day out.
The only downside that you need to be aware of is low speed handling. It will not back down well and turning takes more room.
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