Quite simply most boats built for the US market are heavy aren't very fuel efficient for the speeds Dixie Dime was intended for. Specifically, 6 to 15 knots with the ability to get well into the twenties if needed, all while getting 6 plus MPG. Essential we were looking for double trawler speed but still light enough to be easily towed. Of late there seems to be a flurry of OB powered vessel some even of the cabin variety, though they mostly are designed to operate in a higher speed range than DD is intended to. I assume it is not that what we desired was hard or impossible to build but rather it just wasn't economically viable for mass production. I am sure if there were enough people requesting such a craft there would certainly be a company who would gladly produce them. I am ever amazed by the comments we get on our OB sizing, it seems the general public believes you need a 250 to push a 19' bass boat. In retrospect I do think the 200 Suzuki might have been a better choice due to weight. The additional OB weight would improve the balance and DD definitely ended up heavier than intended mainly due to all the teak in her. The elements of the design were well thought through and tailored to her intended use. Namely to complete the Great Loop in sections as well as other extended cruises to The Puget sound, the Inside passage or maybe even the Sea of Cortez. After all she has really long legs due to the speed she can make on her trailer. We also found a lack plans available that checked all our boxes. The decision to build Dixie Dime out of high quality imported marine ply via the stich-n-glue method was an easy one with my prior experience with a SNG kayak and general woodworking. Many designs were review with several of Sam Devlin's designs garnering special consideration but ultimately Tom Lathrop's Bluejacket 28 design came as close as we could find to what we wanted. Though it still was lacking some of the space we desired for comfort as well as stores and tankage for extended cruising. Ultimately it was the classic looks combined with excellent fuel efficiency that put it on the top of the list. After all we were not just looking for a weekend cruiser, we were looking for something we could spend a month or more on. We wanted lots of windows for visibility and ventilation when the temperature allowed. An ample cockpit to sit out and enjoy the great outdoors. Enough fuel and water capacity to get to out of the way places and back. A dedicated sleeping area that didn't have to be folded down or converted every night. Ample drawers and lockers to carry our stores as well as our eBikes. She needed a robust power system to power all the comforts of home without the need for shore power or a generator. The final criteria she needed was to be aesthetically pleasing with classic lines and a real hull not a pontoon boat with a camper on the top. I believe we have ended up with exactly what we desired and I think she is one of the most practicle boats out there.