Time your trip so you are never returning with the tide going out as this makes the waves stand up and break,
with the horsepower issue my boat is a 5 metre plate ally rated to 70 hp, when setting it up the dealer
recommended a 100 hp motor because it is the same weight as the 70 and also because the transom is built like a tank
and at times ive used every one of those horses getting to keep up with the wave in front with 2 and 3 people in the boat,
I would never consider 4 or 5 people in that size boat outside that is a recipe for disaster.
Cheers Bloodshot