Thanks for your response Pat.
I spoke with the dealer you mentioned yesterday, and he informed me that with the I/O diesel they burn 4 or 5 gal per hour at cruise (35 mph), which, despite there higher initial cost, makes them much more efficent than my CD22. The gas outboards are twice that consumption.
This seems to be an extrordinary claim, which I would like to verify.
I've found a guy up here that runs a fleet of them (6), who I'll call and book a charter with.
From what I've read they seem to be, as one review put it "hummers on the water", but economical, fast , and unsinkable as well.
I have come to understand why the charter guys need fast boats. In these waters, as I'm sure is true for Puget Sound, the fish are 50 or more miles from town, and a slow boat takes all day to get there and back.
Regards,
Law