Another option to consider is the new Mercury Racing 520. This motor comes with a 2 year warranty and will not have the header issues. DTS is also standard and this motor will save you around 8k over the 525.

Yea, sometimes going fast is a viscous cycle, the faster you go , the faster you want to go. I learned a couple of things for what its worth.
1. If you want to make your boat go faster, buy a faster boat. Over the long hall its usually cheeper.
2. Leaving your boat alone will drastically help your resale value. I've always left my boats alone. Believe me it was nothing for me to put a supercharger on my Baja in fact it was killing me not to. But its worth more when you leave it alone.
3. There is always someone bigger, faster, stronger, etc.
4. Once you go into the 80mph range its a game of inches and you might build a boat thats to fast for its own good.
I hope this helps. Not trying to take the wind out of your sails. Just sharing my experience.

Not at all, thanks for this reply. I'm going into this with my eyes open. I'm leaving my little Baja alone. I might get the prop labbed thats about it.

I found a website that priced a 525 with X drive brand new just shy of 30K. Then times two is 60K with sales tax.

I also found a 2007 Executioner with 496 HO's for about the same coin with 200 hours.

I love this forum, I'm learning and passing the time till boating season.