Has anyone installed a spool type windless on their 275 Explorer?  I am considering to install one for better convenience and hands-free usage.

No updates to report but I think I am going with fence posts to raise the center stringers. Unfortunately, it will leave the outboard stringers a little lower so I am scratching my head on what the do there.

Nice Rides! Lets see some photos!! Regarding the flatback, I would be curious if you have some moisture saturation of the foam in the stringers. I found that my 70' sat pretty good with the trough only holding water with a 455lb motor and 30-35 gallons of fuel in the original console. See my photos in my flatback thread. As it turned out, the foam was pretty dry from the stringers.

I am in the middle of the rebuild and will be raising the deck a few inches but most of the time, these older flatbacks are saturated with moisture and that alone is the problem. However, the motor bracket setup drives the deck height.

I think like Rickk said, a 90-140hp motor would suit you well. Its nice to have a 4stroke so if budget allows, a 115 or 140hp Suzuki would suit the hull well. A 90 2 stroke would work well as well. 

Well, I ended up finding my key in the garage and I'll either have to find a duplicate or get a copy made somehow.  I guess the worse is that I get a new switch and swap it out when I have time. I have to do some work on my trailer before I have to pull the boat in November.

Bob,
I have sample pieces of all the original teak on the boat and am going to reuse or re make every stock piece of trim and then some. I LOVE the teak on that boat. I will put it all back. Even the pilot house center console I am yet to make will have the original teak doors from my 200CCP. Yes, I have the pair of slats that go across those front compartments but I am going to make new ones as they are too weathered. I plan on storing life jackets in the forward in-floor hatch as I will have about 10 of them in all sizes to be compliant of anyone aboard. Also I plan on making a pocket on the front of the pilot house that will fit a throwable and double as a back rest for anyone sitting on the coffin box.  I wear a fanny pack inflatable that doubles as a fishing tool belt and the family will wear self inflatables.  Not sure what I will use those front compartments for but I will also trim the fiberglass edge in white clip on trim. The anchor locker door I have is from my 200CCP so it may be a little smaller than the 246 but I made up the difference when I built the frame. See page 20 from nov 2013 when I made the frame! Ugh I can’t believe how long ago that was. It’s out of mahogany but it came out beautiful. Wait until you see what teak I have in plan for the transom cap I am soon to re cast. It’s going to look like the 200CCP. Thank you for the kudos on the net holder. I can’t wait to get the rest of the trim installed on those inserts but it’s going to be a while because I have to pull wire and mount the handrails. Yes, the handrails were wood screwed in but I can get to the bottom of 5 of the 7 stanchions from underneath so I want to thru bolt them with washers and nylock nuts. I am also toying with going with marine bronze tubing for the handrail instead of stainless or aluminum for ascetics of a salty, patina look but I have to see what sourcing is going to cost me. I expect it to be about $150 each or so. I also want to research if that patina will run and make a mess of the gelcoat and what reaction stainless to bronze will have in the long run. It’s a gamble as I don’t want to veer too far from original but it might be really cool looking …. Or an eyesore.