Thermostat or No Thermostat?

Just got back from a short cruise. A couple semi hard 1/4 mi runs. Near factory radiator, 180' thermostat,new sender, 7 blade factory steel fan w/ shroud not sealed to radiator, 89' ambient temperature, 340/4 spd. Temp gauge barely rose above minimum operating temp. Temp. gun confirms temperature. Guess I really don't have much to offer those having heating problems.
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