25 Seafari progress and re-power question.

[CGold]

Wanted to share the progress on our 25 Seafari purchased in July. It is the boat seen in this thread:

http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...ad.php?t=30384

Paid $3k under the one condition that the seller keep the ficht Evinrude mounted on the back. Upon looking the boat over there was one soft spot on the deck, the bulkheads forward and aft of the fuel tank were rotten, and the transom was highly suspect. Turns out (as if the colony of ants weren't a dead giveaway) it was completely gone.

Since taking ownership we have remedied the deck and bulkheads, as well as a full coosa transom. Moving forward towards picking a new motor I am hoping for some input. The old 520 pound Evinrude 250 was mounted on a Gil bracket that came on the boat and I believe the boat was fished hard that way for ~10 years. Is there any reason not to mount a 300 Suzuki on the same bracket and (forgive my slang) send it?

The other option as I see it is to get a new Armstrong/Stainless Marine brackett with swim platform and go all in with a Suzuki 350 but I am hesitant due to the extra weight offset further back, not to mention the significant difference in price. I also appreciate the 300's reputation for reliability compared to the somewhat unproven 350.

Any input appreciated.