The torque and power from a V6 is astounding over an inline 4 banger and it's not horrible on fuel if you don't always hammer on the throttle enough to tip open the 4 barrels. 60 HP to a boat is a huge jump, it would be like an 80 HP motor is to a 140 HP. Mines 205 HP and when opening it up slightly out of the hole there is no struggle just a deep guttural growl and in 25' your up on top.
One of my fun things to do is cruise the Chief at 3k rpms around 30 MPH then quickly stab the throttle and it launches the boat up to 40 MPH nearly in an instant as you dump open the secondaries it lets out a mighty roar. Not sure a guy could do that with a skinny single barrel carb on a 4 cyl engine and you certainly won't go over 40 MPH with it. I get 45 MPH out of my SS with a 140 HP OB but it only weighs in at 295 Lbs, the MC 140 will tip the scales at double that.
I know many guys aren't into that sort of power in an 18'r well the Chief is actually only a couple inches shy of being 19'. Some guys like fuel economy and to just putt along, it's up to you at this point what you want from your SS, a dime a dozen 4 banger like you say or a rip roaring machine that has no want for more power.
