Thats what Ive been told as well. I was around one on the U of M research boat, and that thing was nearly silent at idle and you could hold a conversation at WOT. plenty of low end power, but it was on a bay boat so its not going to be a speed deamon. I'm not racing them either so 5-10 mph lost is not going to be a breaking point. Is the gas consumption really as good as people say it is?