On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:05:04 -0500, old boater wrote:

ps-- ok, one question.... what type of gas consumption for a 200hp 6
cyl outboard nowadays say at 1/2 speed (vs. cruising speed) per hour?

That's the easy question, about 10 gallons per hour.

The other questions depend a lot on where you boat: Offshore salt
water, Great Lakes, large bays and rivers, inland rivers, small
protected lake, etc. Different boat types are favored for each venue,
and also depend on primary use.