I just went through the same process personally and here is where my info and help (opinions) took me. Performance and all out rough water performance was pretty much the hot points because I run on VERY VERY VREY rough water and I wanted a somewhat scale looking boat when all said and done:

45-50" deepvee, stock Zen or similar powerplant, strut or stinger with offset rudder, turn fins, and tabs...

The AC and Aeromarine XXX are both on the same hull and both very respectable full-out race boats. Handle chop extremely well and in the 40-45mph range with stock power. Rico also makes a race mono 49" +/- Offshore hull and the "Offshore Classic" is a deeper vee than the newer "Offshore 2008." The Rico 2008 is less setup sensative and will do a bit better with "stock" power.

I chose the RCMK motor and went with the Rico Classic Offshore with Speedmaster Stinger, 6" rudder standoff and dual water pickup rudder, four tabs (two each side is how the heat racers set them up) and two turn fins (big on right size and medium on left, again like the offshore heat races setups). Rough water and the Classic are like peanutbutter and jelly...

Bigger is usually better but lugging around a 56" boat and finding a place to put it can be a chore...

Have fun and do what you think looks good...for sport boating the Aeromarine apaches, Expresscraft C54, WHH lineup, and the firstsatecomposite (ie Dreaminhemi baots) are all VERY tough to beat. If you want to dial it in and be a competitive racer later then the AC Lazer/Razor, Aeromarine XXX, or Rico Offshore Classic/2008 are great contenders...

That's my $.02 and that is about all it is worth.