Hello EBEACH-
I have scrapped the engine bracket idea. Would I go with it I would have gone with the SeaMark bracket and because it is all glass you can determaine your own mounting holes avoiding the stringer issues not to mention it was designed by one of the original builders of our boats.
I scrapped the idea because with a bracket the boat would not fit in my garage. I also did not want to spend aditional thousands on the boat as this project is already costing a bunch.
I went all out on the decking material, Nida-Core, and that stung a bit.
I will not have a standard cut out transom. My plan is to construct an engine shroud that will be on a piano hinge to a newly created splash well. When done I am hoping it will resemble the transom on this Conch 27: