Hi Dan,
The expresscraft apache is not a real pretty boat. It looks like it was made using sheets of plywood with barely a rounded edge to be found. It paints up ok (not with me painting it though) but for where your looking to run I think the boat a little narrow and a little low in freeboard to work well. It also has a long, tall nose that catches the breeze and might be harder to control on more open waters. I have had one for 10 years or more (not running presently). They do respond well to small power plants and are light yet solid. A few pics of mine (please excuse the hideous paint) comparing with a GTX for a buddy who was considering twin inline zenoahs - both tight -
http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/mo...nfo/apachepics
But if I were shopping for your application I would consider the 56" Aeromarine Apache which is a larger boat in many ways (be it shorter). It too is quick with a zenoah - have seen a guy run one on his way home from the hobby shop after just buying it. It is quick. I owned one with a QD35 which was a blast too (regret selling her to this day).
http://justaddwata1.multiply.com/pho...6_Apache_sold#
MHZ hulls are nice but in no way worth the 200-300% difference in price - plus the US dealer hard to recommend. I am just not sure I would want one to beat on - sort of like taking a Bentley into a paddock (to me anyway)
Some reference pics of the $350.00 Expresscraft 65" GTX, $944.00 MHZ 65" Firewater, and $779.00 MHZ 63" XXX Muscle.
http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/my...sonshots636565
I have 3 of the Expresscraft GTX hulls (possibly another this weekend
) so can certainly say I have a bias there. But please dont think Expresscraft and I are partners - they dont like me (and MHZ hate me) - who knows
Here is a GTX I picked up recently - more to show you how they can dress up (you dont really want a stern drive in the rough).
http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/myboats/xxxgtx
Another apache that is back in production is the Ballantine Griffin - she is 65" long and adorable (to me). A very solid boat that use to be made with a 62cc zenoah - monster of a motor. The hull is back in production by another builder so not sure details on price (they started molding them last month). I have had one a few years - nice boat -
http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/myboats/griffin and
http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/ph...boatingoct2006 (dont look at the huge fountain - you will fall in lust)
I think if you asked 20 different boaters who modifies the best motor you will probably get 15 different answers. The topic usually inadvertently ends up in heated discussion which ultimately gets removed (or locked down). There are several very good modifiers of motors out there. The good ones do charge a lot for what they do but usually deliver the goods. There are a few that claim a lot but tend to fall short in what they deliver. Personally I would suggest going stock for what your doing. Stock Zen is great and very reliable. More power - go with a stock RCMK (not much more money) which makes notably more power (from what I have heard - yet to try one personally). I would recommend this for all boats mentioned with the exception of the Ballantine 65 - it will work but might appreciate a little more HP. Possibly the QD35 (I will discuss next) or inline Zenoah or Inline RCMK (Gobs of power).
The Quickdraw 35 is a great motor but was a greater motor years ago when there were less options for bigger boats. The price of the QD is high (seem to have priced themselves out of the market a bit) and the power falls a little short of what is coming from stock inline motors costing half the price. The QD35 is slightly heavier than an inline motor (both with clutches and pipes) and has a higher COG. The cost of repairs to the QD can get high quick (I have had $600+ rebuilds that take a few weeks there and back after a hydraulic) which the inline zenoah will never come close to (if you were to completely destroy one zenoah in an inline and it will cost you $200 and you could replace pond side in 1 hour - but you wont completely destroy a zenoah). I do love Quickdraw motors and the service and support they provide are the standards against which others can be measured. But I would be very reluctant to take a QD35 out jumping waves as they are a little too easy to hydraulic (huge crank that does not stop easy). I still run them but tend to use a lot more care (now I have had a repair or two).