Just thought I'd post an update after going out a few times in our new Monterey. The bottom line is that we love it, going from an 18' Tahoe to a 23' Monterey was the best boating decision that we've ever made. In windy Kansas, the bigger boat's ability to handle chop is night and day. Wakes and waves that would have caused the Tahoe to really slap over the water are a non-issue, the Monterey just cuts right through. Everyone that's ridden on it has noticed the difference. The space is fantastic, we have more storage than we have stuff. The Monterey handles more consistently than the Tahoe, which had the tendancy to suddenly dig in on tight right turns. Overall it's also easier to drive, it doesn't serpentine at low speeds and feels more solid. It's also a much higher quality boat inside and out. I would rate the 5.0 MPI as adequate, fine for the tubing that we frequently do. I suspect it would struggle with a full boat and several adult skiers, but that's not why we bought it. I may look for a higher pitch prop at some point, as I need a spare anyway. As is, it planes quickly and tops out around 45 MPH indicated, which is more than enough for us.
Overall, if you are considering going up in boat size - do it!
