learn about rights of ways, and what markers in your area mean. Learn what all your nav lights stand for.

If you can take a coast guard safety class.
Have your boat certified in the process.

After 20 years of boatiing I was actually able to learn a thing or two, it was fun and the guys were cool.

Side benefits:

1. You get an insurance break.

2. You get a sticker that is the equivalent of a get out of jail free card to put on your boat.

3. It may actually save your life. (at risk of sounding like dad)

Uncle Dave

Seth, these guys are all very right with the Coast Guard Course suggestion. Should you ever meet one of MANY agencies that patrol the water, that sticker on the side of the boat along with a decent amount of respect in how you treat them go a LOOONG way! Now for some driving, as a general rule of thumb on your convincor, with the drive completely tucked, go to 2/3 or 3/4 throttle. Just hang on and deal with the porpoising, and begin to adjust your drive trim UP until the wake is breaking inline with your seat/bolster. Thats generally pretty close to optimal trim on boats in the 23-27ft range. Now, if she is still porpoising, its time to go to work with your tabs. Mess with the settings until she settles. It also sounds like your prop pitch is a bit high. Count on 300rpm increase for every degree you drop. So if your at 4200rpm with a 24P, a 23P should yield 4500 and so on. Look in your manual or on mercury's site for the engines intended operating range and try to get in the middle of that with 2-4 people on board. Most of all, have a blast and spend LOTS of time on the water!