[CaptScottNC]

Thanks for the warm welcome and superb information. I guess my other question is that when up on plane as long as your bracket is strong enough floatation no longer has any effect right? So the big issue is at slow speeds and drifting how your boat will be sitting in the water and how it will effect your drainage and such? Do I basically understand this? I'll add a photo of the boat on the water and see what you guys think?
Her eare the photos showing the waterline. Looks like it's a tad stern heavy with the bow rising up a little according to the bottom paint. Look and see the batteries and the plate used to mount the bracket. I see 5200 on the threads of the bolts so at least they appeared to use sealant and a good size backing plate. What do you guys think? If I move 150lb worth of batteries forward that will at least help if I added a 4-stroke. If i get this I will probably take something that weighs an extra 100lbs and sit it back there on the engine and take some photos of the waterline before and after to compare them. I want to make good decisions and well informed ones. Look at the photos and tell me wha tyou think.