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My typo, meant to say keel not transom. As you mention about sealing up any water access points. I spent the first season finding and repairing entry points. The main ones were holes in the wells and the tank cover screws. This boats sits with all three aft drains under water with a poorly installed bilge pump in the forward well near the tunnel. Last summer after letting everything dry out really well I resealed the tank cover seam (and screw holes) Sealed the entry points to the well (side cover) and plugged all the extra screw holes. I then installed two of the new style auto sensing Whale bilge pumps in both wells and the boat has stayed nice and dry ever since - including the space on top of the tank - which always had standing water when I first got her. Removing the 8 hp Yammy kicker bought me a few inches of freeboard and out fishing last weekend in the upper bay with three of us never had an issue - there was about a 2' chop. Eventually I may add a 3.5hp Yammy 2 stroke but not until I move the batteries under the bench seat (just for peace of mind).

I'm still watching your steps - my hull is in great shape and the transom seems strong so maybe in the future. I appreciate your step by step on the project boat.