Had a 2005 22ft Benny with a 90 Yamaha - nice boat never had any trouble. New boat is a 23 SLX with a 250 SHO and I was surprised that the new boat is more fuel efficient than the old one, although I don't really worry about fuel costs/usuage. As someone said above, it is the cost of fun. Get the biggest engine for performance with a boat full of people. In addition when you go to sell a boat no one wants an underpowered boat, they want the big engine.