It’s easy to burn a lot of fuel when bashing into strong headwinds or rough seas. It’s worth throttling back, not only for a more comfortable ride, but also to save a lot of fuel, which you are going to need if you are some way from home when the weather brews up. Similarly, when motoring on shallow inland waterways, you’ll notice that increasing speed will draw the stern of the boat down towards the bottom. It’s possible to burn almost twice as much fuel for just a knot or two of increased speed.
The boat will have a cruising speed where it is happiest, both in terms of ride, and in throttle settings. It may take a little experimentation to find the ideal setting, but it’s worth the effort.