Help with '75 18 ft Seacraft project

[fishhuntNC]

I'm no expert but I don't think a small livewell in the stern of the 18 with a floatation bracket and a 130 2 stroke or something like that would not hurt.It's your boat but a set of tabs is a great thing to have.I am Going to get a set this winter if it's the last thing I do.

[fishhuntNC]

One more thing. I dont have a closed in stern & bracket but the new four stroke 465lbs. or somthin close and the above deck 30 gal livewell full in the stern is 2 much weight.Since i have no tabs I have to trim engine up and down to keep from loaping and in the ocean this still sometimes isn't enough.Also you might want to raise your decks a little.My 20 with the big engine and the well full will self bail if i'm not in the boat.That to me is not that big a deal as I mostly live bait cobias and trout flounder and other inshore stuff so i just plug the drains.But in the ocean I would want to be able to keep them unpluged if there was any kind of sea.I admit that i plug my scuppers and go in the ocean all day but its nice to be able to get water out quickley and I dont like pulling plugs every time I jump the boat on a plane.

[adamcannon]

I probably should be fine with putting a small livewell in the transom. I am going to raise the floor about 1 1/2 in. Plus my drain holes are going to be out the side of the boat in the corners. That will make them that much further out of the water. Keep your eye open for a real good deal on a outboard 115 - 150 hp. I'm going to get a used motor for now and maybe upgrade in a couple years. We just got the materials in this week and I am going to get started on it hot and heavy in a couple of weeks. Just have to balance work, boat rebuild, and most important, hunting. Its a tough time of year to be working on a boat.