Sounds familiar. I redid my 1984 Seafarer last year. Stripped out the fuel tank, relocated a new one more forward in the boat to balance out the ride (added a new Mercury Verado 300 with power steering and DTS controls), redid the transom and made it full height, built mold and created a new gunnel piece for the gap in the transom, installed a new flotation bracket with platform, stripped out all old wiring and installed a marine DC circuit panel, all new marine wiring, new batteries and switches, new charger, new partition between cabin and helm, new helm, replaced bracket that holds center cleat on bow, designed and fabricated new anchor pulpit, new trailer....new rod holders, down riggers, and garmin and radios. LOL! Now I'm doing the trim work. If you wanted to see some of the progress.....
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKY3HuZDoWwR_iSbBmZmWEkSuhFlgBwjb
I'd love to see progress pictures on your boat.