Hey Ace,
Back in my Dive charter days we had a Boston Whaler. 24' twin 200 Mercs. Stand up bridge and open bow. She did everything we needed her to do in the raging Hawaiian currents; carried 6 divers and gear at work; even pulled me on waterskiis afterwards!
We had enough juice to run the channel over to Kauai or Molokai, too.
Unsinkable, great insurance rates for a charter boat.
I can't say enough about her.
Let me know what you end up doing, OK?