I will use 3/4" honeycomb for the deck, placed on the original stringer height, so maybe 1/2" higher than factory.Power will more than likely be a 115 four stroke on a 10" set back jack plate. I got a really good deal on a brand new jackplate so I am going to try to use that. i may not be able to tilt the motor all the way up unless the jackplate is in the raised position, but we will see. hopefully the 10" setback will be enough to keep the cowling from hitting the top of the transom at full tilt. I did not put any crown in the transom for this reason.No tower or T top, just a bimini.Yes i plan to put scuppers for it to be self bailing. i think it will be light enough so water wont back up on to the deck... but we will see.
Also, the FBs were designed for a 70 or 90 hp engine only and they run great with that. It's the need for speed that makes people go crazy with big motors - we've even seen 225hp on one and the owner said it was too scary at high speed. The FBs like to bow steer and can be dangerous at high speed - you're going one direction one second, hit a wave and now you're going 90 degree or 180 degress in an instant. The FBs don't jump up on plane, you don't have to overcome a bow wave, the FB just goes forward faster and faster, not really planing, just being on top of the water. I drove one with a 90 on it and it moved right along.