Really wanted to run stock LML HP levels to start with and see how things go.
Reliability is top priority, speed and range kind of go together.
We're the same way down here in the summer the gulf is generally slick enough to run as fast as you can. I have an old school 40 scarab I restored a few years ago, it has a race fairing instead of a windshield and we used to run it out for quick box of red snapper opening morning, but the wind at 65-70 bothered some people, I could never get enough.
As far as the d max goes, in a marine set up any significant power increase would call for built short blocks, which is fine but I'd like to see it run stock first