The problem with boats is that they All “after one or two seasons of fishing” are approx 3 feet two small. I don’t care which boat you have they all just not quite big enough for what we really want. SOOOOOO we think up ways to stretch them which kind of helps but not really quite enough. We all have to live with in our boats limitations. Or we can sell and start the process all over again and in another 1 or 2 seasons say the same things.
As for your problem I personally would not put a bracket on a 18 footer just not enough boat.
What I would do is forget the under the deck live well and put a above deck live well in front of the CC or get rid of your leaning post and get a live well with leaning post combined small enough that fits. You probably can only fit something 20-25 gal. That should get you by for another 1-3 seasons before “the itch” a bigger boat gets a hold of you again.
FellowShip
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Just for the Grins
Official Antique Classic SeaCraft Owner