Pete, we always joked about how advanced that boat is (the enclosed bridge looks like that of a Boeing 747 cockpit...learning about EVERYTHING to become qualified was NOT fun) but that it runs on ancient engine technology. Cruising RPM was 1700 at 26 knots (yeah right, maybe with gail force winds on your stern following a 5 knot currrent, buit that is what the manual insists) so we were pretty darn easy on them.
Our Merc's (I hate new 4 stroke outboards) had a 2500 RPM limit (well, on a search and rescue case it was obviously much higher, but 2500 was not to be exceeded in all other situations)
Actually, our new 25 footer had the Honda 4 strokes, and I liked them now that I think about it.
Our Johnsons got phased out b/C we were constantly blowing them up. The only 2 strokes we still have are on the 23'...Merc 150's...they have been BEAT and beat and beat...but they still keep going!!!