Back in October I was on the list for a little while debating purchase of a Tolly 48 vs a Mikelson 50; and then about repowering the Mikelson 50 we eventually bought. Thanks to all for their helpful commments; we have had a lot of fun with the M50; it can be run like a trawler; but we came out of a 38 foot twin 120 Lehman Heritage Taiwan trawler where we had been happy for 15 plus years. The new boat is completely different. We think we will like the world at 15 knots. My wife and I, at 57 have a lot of boating left to do; from the magazines, although we were guided only by our own wants, it now appears that lots of boaters want some speed. We are based in San Diego; and now, with a 50 foot boat and 15 plus knot cruise, we are looking at La Paz in January February 05 once we get things sorted out; then across to Mazatlan, Pueto Vallarta, and Zihuatano The boat was in great shape, except for the engines, when we bought her. The price was way below market. The 3208 TA 435's are out of the boat now, just rebuilt, just dynoed this week, and go back in the boat next week. We will be replacing the props too. With everything, we will be at half the price of a new one; and that includes painting the engine room, redo on the exhausts, and anything else we could see while in there; the engines were rebuilt with Cat parts and are basically new. Mikelson's have a very efficient Tom Fexas design with re to the hull; and can go faster, farther on smaller engines. Very comfortable ride. None that I am aware of need stabilizers or even much in the way of trim tabs. Huge cockpit, huge flybridge; three bedrooms, two baths; 16.8 feet of beam, all on a boat we expect will be economical to cruise. Here in San Diego they are considered "sport fishers" we call ours a "cruising sedan". Just another way to go boating. 15-20 knot cruise will be around 25-30 GPH total. Tankage is 1000 gallons. GPH will be a lot better at 12 knots if we pull back on the throttles a bit; we'll keep you posted as we get back on the water; all the waypoints are in the new chart plotter; best to the list. John Houts

> >15-20 knot cruise will be around 25-30 GPH total. Tankage is 1000 gallons. >GPH will be a lot better at 12 knots if we pull back on the throttles a bit; >we'll keep you posted as we get back on the water; all the waypoints are >in the >new chart plotter; best to the list. John Houts I don't want to rain on your parade, but I think your fuel burn estimates on this boat are very optimistic. I just sold a boat , a Vista 43 with twin Cat 3208's with 375 hp that had a loaded weight of about 40,000lbs compared to your boats probable loaded weight of closer to 60,000 lbs. Unless the hull of the Mikelson has some very unusual characteristics I think your burn at high cruise will be closer to 36 gph and that it will probably take a burn of at least 24-26 gph to keep the boat on any sort of plane. Since I doubt very much you will be able to plane the boat at 12 knots, to run that speed would require a very inefficient burn as you would in effect be plowing the boat through the water and I therefore think a low end cruise for you would be economical at only around 9 knots. This is based upon my experience with the Cat's, maybe you will do better? Jim Alexander Port Charlotte, FL