'20 Ft. Seacraft - enclose the transom and bracket or no bracket?

[ptruluck]

I would greatly appreciate some input and advice from those have renovated their Seacrafts.

My 20 ft Seacraft project is well underway at G-Crafts Marine in Awendaw, SC.

I've had this 1985 Seacraft about 6-years. It looked pretty good before as it was and it runs well. I repowered with 2005 150 hpJohnson 2-Stoke a few years ago that had 75-hours on it. The engine looks new and runs great but sucks fuel. Wish I had bitten it and gone with a 4-stroke, but feel need to ride this one out for a while.

I swear this 20 ft. ride is a better ride than many bigger boats I've been on including a friend's 23 Edgewater and larger Grady's. It really takes rough water and big chop well. I guess thats the point and why we all appreciate and like these boats.

Anyway, the boat had some soft spots in the deck. The bottom hull had a few deep scratched and gouges. I was thinking of going up to a 23 ft CC, but decided to do a complete renovation of this boat.

Thus far, center console was removed, new 60 gallon expoxy lined fuel tank and lines installed, the floor had several soft spots but the stringers were completely solid. The entire floor was cut out and is now rock solid.

In the meantime, I had the customer t-top & leaning post powder coated white. The splash well has jest been glassed in half-way up to the top of the transom, so the engine can still be trimmed forward for towing, and lifting the engine out of the water.

Boat will also get new canvas (dark navy or white?) t-top, new white upholstered leaning post and cushions in front of the t-top.

All new gauges and new a Garmin GPS were last year along with Bennett trim tabs.

the inside and topside of the boat is being repainted with non-skid awlgrip (oyster white). The hull will be painted ice blue from water line up. The bottom hull scratches and gouges have been repaired. Plan is go with a dark navy bottom anti-fouling paint.

Two Questions:

1) What type of barrier coat or paint would you recommend (as old bottom paint is being scraped and repairs made as stated) before putting on two coats of anti-fouling paint? Suggestions?

2) Should I go ahead and have the entire transom enclosed and go with a bracket while we are at it???

G-Crafts didn't seem to think there would be much benefit from enclosing the transom commpletely. The boat goes up easily on plane with 150 hp. Any advantage of having a bracket or comment on whether I should do this or not? Seems a lot of people on this site like the idea of enclosing the transom and adding an engine bracket.

Greatly appreciate any and all advice - want to make sure this turns out well and not look back and wish I had taken it farther.

Thanks you,

Patrick