Etec 175 on a 23 CC?

[bmajvi]

Okay, just back from a short sea trial on this boat. Three people onboard and 50 gallons of gas. Seas were around 3' (it's rarely much smoother here in the Caribbean), with 10-15 knots of wind, boat has a hardtopped t-top. Engine is quiet at idle, but doesn't seem as quiet as a four stroke. Boat jumped right up out of the hole and accelerated nicely right up to 32 mph on the gps, where it topped out. Sliced through the seas in typically great Seacraft fashion, but honestly not sure how much faster I'd really want to have run through the stuff. My old 18 could run 42+ in flat water, but I very rarely ran it over 25 down here to keep from throwing my back out - not much protected water in my neighborhood. The seller has owned it for 10+ years, is selling due to serious health issues (Big C), and doesn't have any GPH/MPG calcs (engine only has 6 hours on it). The hull is an '85 (non-Potter), and has been cleaned up, rewired, repainted, etc. Thinkin' about it. Would ideally prefer a closed transom/bracketed 250hp, Potter hull, etc., but this one is here, and doesn't need anything right away. Hmmm...