GBs (experienced pilots needed)

[old_dobbs]

So, I'm planning on starting fresh with a gun boat/ship for the first time ever, and virtually any useful advice would come very handy.
To cut a tedious explanations short, I'll put it this way:

1) Basically, I would like something between good (great?) mobility and still decent firepower and armor (modest, isn't it?); what would you recommend? (liberty, rheinland and bretonia are the circles where I most like hanging around)

2) Which is the strongest CAU I can mount on a gunboat, and which one can I mount on that one (depending on your answer in 1))

3) What is the general advice that, based on your own experience, you would give to a would-be gb pilot? Do you need much skill to pilot it efficiently?

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Oops, wanted to actually post this in Discovery 24/7 discussion; the mods can move it if they feel like.