I'd recommend direct surface drive for more speed and fun (rooster tail). It's really not harder and there's more adjustment to the setup. Also cats are generally more stable at high speed given good water. Sometimes the v hulls will do better in the rough but it all depends on the design. I'm building a scratch cat that I started on around xmas. I'm about ready to finish the hull but still need to get most of the guts. It's a 29" surface drive cat, it will be big and brushless.