[TunaMeltdown]

Why is the definitive answer? Yes, I know there are many threads on this topic, and many many posts arguing for filling in the vents versus leaving them be.

Here is how I read the FINAL break-down:

REMOVE THE VENTS
- when backing down on a fish, the vents at the transom can take on water, and the boat can sink. For Safety reasons, they should be filled in. You shouldn't need to back down on a fish in a Center Console. Put the angler in bow and drive the boat as it is meant to be, with the pointy end (bow) forward.
- they were originally put on i/o and inboard seacrafts to vent the engine space. If you have an outboard/bracket, you don't need them. The factory put them there so that would be enough reasoning for me to leave them.
- When docking, they can get smashed or beat up. Especially if you get the plastic ones, you are going to buying new vent covers every year. Practice Docking
- Not too many other boats have vents, so you don't need to air out your bilge. If it is an i/o or inboard they still have blowers.

- The key to the seacraft shape is the bow flare, variable dead-rise, and pointy bow. There is nothing "classic seacraft" about some vents on the side. Again the factory installed them and if you fill them in there is no visible way to tell the boat from a classic or a newer model.
- The hull looks better with a smooth profile. I got nothing on this one.

KEEP THE VENTS
- They were originally put on i/o and inboard seacrafts to vent the engine space, but soon all seacrafts had them. They are part of what makes a classic seacraft classy looking.
- You need to air out your bilge.
- If you are worried about sinking, double check your bilge pumps. There is no way in hell the vents could ever be the main cause of the boat sinking. They are so high above the waterline, I just can't see that happening.
- The original vent covers were made out of much tougher materials, see if you can find those, and they should last longer.
- Strick originally removed them from his 23, but then put them back later.
- The hull looks better with some nice stainless vent covers.
- Why do more work?

Other notes
- Some argument about orientation. Usually, the front vents (up by the bow flare) point forwards. The ones in the rear face backwards. This is so that when underway, air goes through the bilge.

Ok. I set up a poll.