Here is my two cents worth. I have used both 90 Honda and 115 Mercury EFI on two 22 ft cruisers. I loved the Honda, but found that it couldn't get out of the hole with four adults and gear aboard (until several crawled into the forward berth) on Yellowstone Lake one summer. Now Yellowstone Lake is almost 8,000 ft above sea level. How many folks boat at that elevation? The new Honda 90 is EFI, and that should help some. The older four carburator model was almost bullet proof, unless one gets lazy and lets gas gel gunk up the insides. Then it is an expensive trip to the boat mechanic. The Yellowstone experience led to putting on Bennett trim tabs, which really annoyed Mark, and for reasons I do understand. Tabs do affect the 22 Cruiser in tight turns, but the advantages to having tabs outweigh the disadvantages.
My second 22 ft cruiser has a 2006 Mercury 115 EFI, and it is pushing the limit in my judgment. Why the limit? That extra power has to be used judiciously, but I like having it should the need require, like being caught in strong ocean currents in a narrow channel and staying away from whirlpools. Been there, done that. Am doing most of my boating now between 3000 and 8000 feet. The 22 cruiser is of course weight sensitive as are all boats. The 115 EFI gives a couple more mph at WOT and more push out of the hole. And it weighs about the same as the Honda 90. In terms of fuel efficiency, I can't really tell the difference. Run either engine in the sweet spot of 4200-4400 rpm and it is efficient. Or run it at 1,000 rpm and get insanely high miles per gallon.
A tip for new 22 ft owners. Unless absolutely necessary keep your water
tank close to empty. That extra 160 lbs is bad news from a performance level. The insurance thing is really greatly exaggerated. Another tip for 22 ft users. Extending the tabs down really creates enough drag to help
slow down the boat when docking. Virtually all my gel nicks have come via docking. Coming in too fast.