Welcome! For the type of boating you describe I don't think you could choose a better brand. There are four incontrovertible rules:
1) No one ever said, "I wish I hadn't gotten such a big engine." Boats are not like cars in this way. When everything else is equal, or even close to equal, go with the biggest engine you can afford. 80% of the used boats on the market are for sale primarily because the current owner is unhappy with the power (well, in this economy that's no longer true, but you get the idea). Dealers sell a lot of boats at boat shows and casual buyers by selling them an "affordable" package that is underpowered. Many of those boats end up on the used market within a couple of years. Don't buy someone else's problem.
2) You're looking at boats that are nearing 10 years of age. Inspect them very carefully, and if you aren't 100% sure of what you're looking for, make any deal contingent upon a full mechanical inspection with engine compression test, to be done by a good marine mechanic. In the age range of boats you're considering, you'll find everything from worn out warhorses to garage queens whose biggest problem is that they haven't been run enough. You're in the best used boat buyer's market in history, so don't necessarily fall madly in love with the first one you find.
3) If you'll be towing the boat, don't overlook the condition of the trailer. Does it appear to have been maintained? Wheels & tires in decent condition? If a candidate has been used in salt water, checking the trailer over carefully is 10 times as important.
4) Once you buy a boat, you have to post pics of it here. If you don't you'll get a visit from our people.
Where will you boat? There's a good chance that someone here is familiar with the area and can give you some more specific advice. If you haven't already, take a boating education course. There's a good chance it's required where you live, but even if it isn't you're guaranteed to learn things you didn't know. Even the online courses at http://www.boat-ed.com/ are pretty good.
If I was looking at a H180 i would go with the V6 for sure. My first FW had the OMC 4.3L and had plenty of power. It was a 1991 and would still out run my buddies 08 H180 3.0L.
We originally owned a 20 foot boat then, 21’, 23’, 24’ and now 26’ boat…. Have a nice season and please do not forget to post Pictures.
