Thermostat issue, maybe?

[1998gemini]

1998 Horizon 200 4.3 Volvo PentaGi
I recently purchased my boat from a yacht dealer and have finally put her in the water for the first time. I made a few minor repairs to some surface cracks, gave her a complete 3M 3 stage compound buffing and a new painted bottom.
I replaced a leaky seawater pump and belt and proceeded to test with the hose...
I noticed after several minutes at idle I had no change in the motor temp gauge. I ran the motor for another few minutes also with no change in temp on the gauge.
I got her on the water finally this weekend and ran her pretty good for her "maiden" voyage.. a few times the gauge went above the coldest reading (proving the gauge is getting some kind of reading).. no higher then maybe 1/5th of the gauge..
I stopped several times, opened the motor cover and I could lay my hand on the block..
My question is ; is the thermostat gauge correct? I'm used to my car gauge running at 1/2 way on the gauge...where should the boats gauge read under "normal" operating conditions..?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Use an IR thermometer to check your block temp

Also, check to see if there is a thermostat. Someone prior could have incorrectly removed it

 

[bruceb58]

My boat runs at 140?. Your engine also comes with a 140? thermostat so you are likely fine. Do as Scott says and measure with an IR thermometer at the thermostat housing to see what you get.