I built mine for offshore and cruising. You are right, she will get up and move when asked to do so. Frankly, I have been out many times when twelve knots was all I could do granted current conditions. I have also been out on days when running offshore and conditions were good enough to do 24 plus knots. Then there are weekends where we just play in the bay, crabbing on an incoming tide at four or five knots. The boat will cruise on plane down to around twelve or thirteen giving you optimal mileage. I am running a 225 on mine with a 17 inch prop. I am planning on upgrading the prop to a 21 inch for better cruising mileage. Right now, with fresh fuel onboard, I get 3 1/2 miles per gallon cruising out as fast as conditions allow, trolling for four or five hours then cruising in as fast as conditions allow.
So, if you want a boat without the potential to go fast when you want or need to the GA isn’t for you. Going fast isn’t a bad thing, it is something to have in your tool box when you need it! Being stuck at ten or twelve knots, day in and day out, severely limits the use of your boat.