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Because it looks like you'll likely have to go out of town for service it looks like you're going to have to do a lot of research to find a great service source. All other things being equal I would seriously consider a 200 HP Verado for your boat. The engine has a good power to weight ratio with incredible torque. Otherwise I'd choose an engine with good power to weight at 150 to 200 HP. The newish Mercury 150 has been growing an excellent reliability record and is designed with several features to simplify owner maintenance. Check out www.veradoclub.com for a lot of good Verado information.