yeah, lots of good options appearing -
right now I'm really kinda leaning towards Trayders design...
Looked into the bracket thing - 9" setback bracket around $500, another $500 for a hydraulic steering rig - I can't see that I'll ever power this thing with more than 150hp, it just doesn't need it - but do I need to go that route - priorities are more towards a good trailer, a fixed VHF unit, in lieu of just the handheld, still got the original gas tank...
but this time, instead of just rebuilding it as is, I want to get a plan worked out for now, and later, and as we both said, while the focus of the discussion is improving seaworthiness of the transom cut-out, neither of us has really had a problem with that - alot of which also includes being a smart boater, and knowing the capabilities of your boat - if ya got a big hole in your stern, don't be backin down in big waves, etc...
Floors - the vertical scuppers seem to work fine for me, I can't see messin with that - again, my use will probably always be trailered, with the occasional moored overnight with me on it. I've paid for season slips before - ouch - that's why the downsize to trailerable.
Probably will pull off a bunch of the pix we've accumulated here - would love to get more detailed pix of Trayders - and I'm thinkin with some corrugated cardboard, I could do some mocking up of options, over the winter, for the interior of the stern, maybe build up a plywood knockoff of that short bracket, and see what it really gives me for motor tilt/ transom raising measurements, etc...
open to any and all thoughts
or just take it and fish it the way it is - it is a great boat !!!
Bill
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