The foam seems solid and dry. I've been walking on it, im 280lbs, and have not dented it at all. I could take a small pipe and take a core sample to see how it is further down. what do you think?

There was a storage bin in front of the console. I kept it and plan to glass it to the new deck and add the hatch back. There is potential to add a second compartment as well.

Im also going to replace the fuel fill hose and the vent hose. The deck drain is the hose you can see in my last photo, i'm gonna leave that one there, its old but still pliable and should work.

Cruising right along with the inner transom. Have a few more layers to go before I start tying in the stringers. SeaCast is due for delivery tomorrow but I am not ready for it yet. I expect to pour seacast Saturday and Sunday. I will wait to tie in the stringers after I pour the seacast because if I missed an area and there is a leak into the stringer tie cavity it will prove havoc as I do not have any spare seacast to make up that volume. So just for assurance sake I’ll glass the stringers to the transom after seacast to make sure i have no leaks. The area between the stringers and transom was a problem as I could not quite assure that I had the fiberglass tucked all the way down there. Definitely a thorn area for me.
I understand the photos of the transom may have been a bit confusing as to what I was doing. This photo may clarify a little bit better. Breaking back the top cap that I had to create a lip you can see the 1.5” foam plug creating the void for the seacast. The foam will soon be removed. I will trim that top lip nice and neat as well. Why a top 90 degree lip? Rigidity. Anytime you bend something you make it stronger. This will shore up the inner skin and make it more ridged and less prone to being bulged out by the seacast.

I just redid my old console off of my 196. Both are probably going to be some work. Can't really lose either way. I kind of lean dbiscayne's way, keep the old one. It's cool

Finally got some 6 gauge tinned wire for the trolling motor.  Put chaffing hose over it in strategic spots (fuel tank and other  contact areas). Glued and zip tied the hose to  various hard points using the gorilla glue ultimate. Next will 5200 or bonding putty and tab the front deck down.

So i doodled… this is where I think I’m headed…