Thanks for all the responses guys. I do have a good understanding of lever arms and how weight affects trim, having sailed and worked on boats my whole life. So I am not coming into this cold...
Like I said in my previous post, the boat was already stern heavy and I'm not necessarily trying to improve it, just make sure it doesn't get worse.
I raised the transom to 25" four years ago. The pic of the MA with Yammi on it is about where my scum line sat, just below the motor well scuppers. Mine was "tipped" as well from the kicker. Kicker and bracket are both going away with this refit.
I did some math last night on what kind of difference the fuel tank will make. With 20 gal in a new tank (aft end of tank at CG, 4' long tank, so fuel ~2' fwd of CG) vs 20 gal in the old tank (8' long tank and fuel all sat ~3' aft of CG) that equates to ~75# on the transom. Tanks full (new tank 40 gal, old tank 70 gal) it equals about the same change in weight on the transom (Weight of fuel in the old tank moves fwd as it is filled, to centered on CG).
The motor is a done deal, brought it home yesterday. I think I'm pretty well settled on placing the tank just about as far fwd as I can, which will be centered 2' fwd of CG. I'm going to push the console as far fwd as is reasonable. I'm also going to utilize my "fwd plywood, aft Coosa" sole construction technique to make the new sole heavier fwd and lighter aft. My feeling is from all this that I will at least maintain the trim I had if not improve it just a little.
Again I appreciate all the comments and it is all great information!
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