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The current motors have 25 inch shafts, for running twins on this model of whaler it calls for 20 inch shafts. So the original owner added the jack plates when installing the current motors to achieve the correct installment height.

As far as transom damage really do not think that is an issue as I do have a large angle bracket that covers the interior of the transom. And when the motor fell it only left one nick the size of a dime at the bottom of the transom where it meet the bottom of the haul.

My current motors are 1999 and have right around 1,000 hours which is basically 100,000 in car miles. I think I should be able to get new used 150 Opti Max motors for around $6-9K installed and I would not need new controls and only need to add new steering. All the steering was on the motor that fell and the slave is still standing. Either way the existing jack plates will be removed.

Finding a set of used twin 20 inch shaft motors will be very tough. Think there is 25 on this site where someone has already raised their transom 5 inches, it looked very clean and I think it had a single Yamaha on her. I kind of fear putting a single on the the back since I am so used to how my boat handles with twin, kind of feel this haul is made for the twins too (just my opinion).

The boat is mainly used for fishing the Chesapeake and a family boat. We might make 2-3 trip down to the Bay Bridge Tunnel or run off shore 1-3 times a year, other than that we are running from the Baltimore Light House down to Solomons Island region in the central part of the bay. This haul has been great to me and I plan to have her for another 30 years so this will be a long term investment as new boat prices are crazy high for something comparable in ride and dryness. The only down fall I really have with the haul would be the low open transom, especially when drift fishing in a rough sea of 3 footers plus, have taken a couple waves over the stern in the past. We have also run her 80 miles out in the ocean, so she has seen her share of 8 footers plus on few return trips (but have never felt unsafe once).

So currently I am leaning towards raising the transom to eliminate the jack plates completely. As for the motors, I am on the fence, repair, used twin or used 300HP... I have seen several with singles on 25 footer but I would be really curious to hear from someone who has taking their twins off and installed a single screw, what are your feeling now; any regret?