[Fr. Frank]

Don't let Terry scare you off of going out to the Middle Grounds! It is literally the best grouper fishing in the entire Gulf of Mexico! (Lots of Goliath Grouper/Jewfish though, which you can't keep, even though I remember them as VERY tasty).

I ran my 1972 20' Seafari out to the Florida Middle Grounds from Cedar Key (210 miles round-trip) in front of three different motors: twice with a '77 120 hp Chrysler, once with a '91 XR4 150 Mercury, and finally, twice with an '06 90 Mercury Optimax. I never had a problem mechanically, but I did always take kicker motor.

Like Denny, I never made a 100+ mile trip like that alone, but always in the company of other boats, usually with a larger (40+) Cruiser for a floating "hotel" while we were out there. Let's face it, 105 miles at 20-25 mph is a LOOONG ride. (I do confess to making the crossing to the Bahamas alone many, many times, though, in a variety of boats.)

With my 120 Chrysler, I got about 3.7-3.9 mpg average at 22-23 mph.
With my 150 Mercury, I got about 2.9-3.0 mpg at 25-26 mph, and
with my 2006 20" 375lb 90hp Optimax, I got 5.7 mpg at about 25 mph.

The 90 Etec I now believe to be a better choice than the Optimax, mostly because of the weight and much better reliability. Fuel economy is reportedly now as good or better, too. I have a parishioner with a new 2013 90 Etec on a 1700 lb Key West 186, and he insists he is averaging over 6.5 mpg here in Choctawhatchee bay. It's so quiet, that when we're fishing together I have to look back to see if the motor is running at idle, if the stereo is on.

I also agree that you should raise the transom to 25" if you haven't already, and forgo the bracket. CG is very important in Moesly hulls.