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Also, I would not consider the Whaler 27 I have a real "gashog". I run a LONG way on a trip normally, and I get about 1.3 mpg at 35 mph in most conditions. This is just about the same as the comparable center consoles get at my marina, the Contenders and Fountains, with the same power. The only remarkable fuel economy difference I have heard about locally exists with the catamaran hull designs, but they are more expensive to maintain.

I regularly make day trips and overnighters that amount to between 120 miles minimum up to 300 miles on a round trip. It is 75 knots to the deep water off my coast here , what we call the shelf. I use electric powered reels to deep drop out there. The Whaler 27, with the twin F-300 setup that I have, is one of the most economical boats that I know of that are adequate for this sport. It takes a lot longer for the sportfishers to get out to the same depth, and they are not nearly as economical. I have run one of these as well.

The Whaler 27 can make way at 25-35 mph in a 1-3 ft chop in 10-15 knot winds with ease, and I usually see 1.5 - 1.7 mpg in these conditions. The same speed in the same conditions in the sportfishers will use 3 times that amount of fuel at a minimum, and most sportfishers actually use 5 times that.
This is not a cheap sport, no matter what boat you use, but the Whaler 27 is as cheap as it gets, if you want a dry ride and you want to fish, and not just spend all day riding to the fishing grounds. :)