[Putershark]

Welcome aboard!
Boats are not like cars John and they do not coast (ever seen a brake pedal on one ) and you can also run into the point of diminishing returns very quickly if you mount up an engine that has to work harder and as such, burn more fuel and put more strain on it by going with too little horse power.

Speed demon or not, power is needed to get a boat on a plane and can also help push you quicker (or get you out of) heavy surf conditions where time between waves is limited as you are turning. This is why I would go with the max HP that hull is rated to carry.

I still feel that a certain amount of boats that broach are due to not getting turned fast enough in-between waves. This happens because either the pilot did not apply (or even have the needed HP) power fast enough or misjudged the wave set timing which is easy to do in confused seas. And or did not have a speed knob on the helm to bring her about and then back straight again under power quick enough and as such, takes a wave over the side. Very dangerous to say the least...

Let us also not forget, that when you take that wave over the side or bow for that matter, in SF Bay that it is NOT that warm Gulf water we have in Florida (took my Coast Guard baisc training in SF so I remember very well) so as such, I would say that a 215 would be much better suited and safer for such work due to the higher gunnel's and higher flared bow.

The 215 can still be pulled by your jeep, but I would keep an eye on the brake pad condition in that hilly terrain. I would also make sure that the trailer brakes are kept in tip top condition and flushed out very well after every dunking. This be it in fresh or salt water for sure and I would also run salt away through the trailer brake system (if drum brakes) or rinsed off with it very well of disk brakes. I would also get a trailer that has disk brakes in that area for that very reason.