Thinking of removing the splash guard before the tansom and motor. Open up the deck even more. It's a self bailing hull on the deck. Anyone do the same. I mostly spearfish.
You will instantly understand the logic the first time you raise your motor with the gate locked in the up position. Cowlings are expen$ive.I was actually thinking of putting in a fixed clasp system of some kind on mine to fix it in place should a wave overtake the stern. The little rubber catches look like they'd be useless in this scenario. Never fully understood the logic in that design.
Fair points. I certainly know how easy it is to raise the engine into a locked transom, I have a lot of experience on a 23 Regulator that's set up this way. Still strikes me as an odd tradeoff to prioritize the ability to freely raise the engine over protection from waves over the stern.You will instantly understand the logic the first time you raise your motor with the gate locked in the up position. Cowlings are expen$ive.
Also, if you take on a stern wave underway, you can instantly goose the throttle, and send the water back out an open gate, whereas having to go back and open it, then return to the helm, may be a costly delay.