Thanks very much for the tips fellas... After maybe one hour in the boat I only took it to 63mph on the GPS, because it was windy, quite cold, and I want to get comfortable and gradually get the feel for it. The previous owner told me he had it to 83mph, which will be just fine, and seems to agree with your estimate..

It certainly is a beautiful craft, and Im quite sure theres not another around for a ways, so it will be tough to find anyone with direct expierence. I guess I'll learn myself.

I do not know if it has a low water pickup or not. I dont know if its a proxs or just a regular xs? Best I can figure is theres a difference from what I read on this board so far.

Do the numbers on the jack plate guage correspond to "inches" or are they just arbitrary numbers?

So far I found that I put the tabs down when I slow down and want to put the boat back down in the water, and then they are ready to use to bring it back up again? I messed with trim buttons some, but it seems to have minimal effect, mostly just managed to get it to porpoise before I brought it back in or increased my speed. I just wish there was a guage for the tabs, seeing how they seem so important.

I will pay attention to the water pressure guage more than I have though. I seem to remember it hovering around 12-15 when running, and about 5-6 at idle.

Is there a fuse box/breaker box somewhere in this boat? I havent come across it yet.

thanks for your help so far. I know it may seem like the boat is in amateur hands, and it is, but I can assure you its in respectful and loving ones.