Seafari Stern

[gaulois]

Hey Bill,
Your boat is practically identical to mine aside from yours having bottom paint. Mine is a 73 also and has the exact stern that yours has with the stern compartments/batteries.
My port side box was converted into a live baitwell. Im not shre what Im going to do about that. I used to troll in SFla and would troll w/ fresh ballyhoo, and keep live bait in the well. When I hooked into schoolie dolphins, I'd drop a deep line w/ live bait fish for any possible hunting Wahoos below... Ok, so back to reality- Im analyzing this all virtually as I am separated from my boat. But from all the help on this board, I have come to the conclusion that the scuppers were leaking, and thats why they were pulled and glassed/texed over. To restore scupper action, likely the best is to route out the stern, but Ill have to think about that. As for the stern seaworthiness, I think the idea (I forget who it is) of building a foldable splashboard is the simplest near term solution. Its too bad that Im leaving, otherwise I would shoot over to NH and check your boat out. I live near Biddeford on the Saco River, not too far from NH.
Ikan-Besar- You did a beautiful restoration job. V. impressive. Where in S. FL? Looks like fly rods you have. Do you fish in Florida Bay at all? I used to go quite a bit with a smaller boat I had, and then I did go with my 23CC, but its a bit skinny in a many spots, and I was limited as to which basins I could access. Didnt want to damage the turtle grass for future fly fishig generations. I also used to put frequently at Flamingo, and cross Fl. Bay to lower Keys, Key West, then on to the Marquesas.
I would agree with you that if you choose your days, there is no reason really to be obsessd with waves washing over the stern, but since I plan on going offshore/crossings quite a bit, the weather can change very quickly way out in the Gulf Stream. It can be frightening, and if your engine quits, which according to Murphy is always a possiblility, a protected stern would lessen an already deteriorating situation.
Ok, Ive babbled enough. Great input, thanks everyone.

PS- One other question. Looks to me as far as re-canvassing the bimini goes that the best is to use the original design where the canvas snaps to the windsheild. Seems as though it would avoid some splash/spray...