Although aluminum boats are lower maintenance and can be beached rather easily, I think your wife would be more cozy on a glass cabin cruiser.
An Olympic, Seasport or Osprey in the 22-26' range should do quite nicely.
I do have a 22' Oly N.W. Walkaround myself. 225 HP Merc EFI saltwater O/B. I repowered when was was in the $1.50-1.75/gal range. I would have gone 4-stroke if I'd known.
MM
