Thanks for all the input. Yeah, it's looking more and more like a few year project. Gotta fit it in between the rest of life. I've just started finishing my basement, so I probably won't make much real progress 'till next Summer.
As for a splashwell... I'm thinking that all I need to do is get the motor far enough back and up, that it won't be necessary. None of the 3 pics in Hyperacme's Reply #7 have splashwells. Am I missing something? I plan to cut about 25" wide x 18" deep out of the swim deck, then construct a
8" fixed jackplate , then add a
4" manual jackplate to that.
How "beefy" is a beefy stringer? 3/4" ply x total height, plus a 3/4" x 2" top reinforcing strip, glassed over with something really tough?
I haven't yet determined a budget. The following are my best guesses, which might be way off:
Boat purchase & transportation (done) $900.00
Outboard purchase & transport (probably Yamaha OX66 225hp) $3,700.00
Outboard controls & cable $400.00
8" Fixed Jackplate + 4" manual jackplate shipped $350.00
Will I need new gauges? $400.00
Battery $100.00
Stringers, floor, transom, wood etc, $1,000.00
Paint or gel, fiberglass filler, etc $500.00
Paint / Gel spray gun & other tools $200.00
Foam $500.00
Labor for the places where I get stuck $1,000.00
Total $9,050.00
Ouch. That was a little more than I was thinking. But I also have no set timeline, so it can be done as funds and time permit.