Strip off everything OMC on the long block, and build up with Mercruiser specific items.
The motor is a GM 3.0 industrial motor with OMC manifold, carb, and ignition.
Clean the hub and inside the dust cap with some solvent. When you push on, the little bit of grease inside the cap allows it to slip off
When you push on the cap, you sort of have to burp it. Then it will stay on
My last trip to Cruisers was 6 years ago. All my pics were related to stern doors and bulwark beaches. I remember the lamination building and discussing the balsa core with Grayson
I quit deer hunting on private land decades ago when I was looking at a buck and doe thru the scope and there was a hunter on the other side looking thru his scope at me
Plywood is a composite of wood laminate and glue
Foam and fiberglass is a composite of polyurethane resins and glass fibers
An aluminum boat transom of wood and aluminum is a composite
Do not confuse marketing buzzwords with construction methods
Today's stringer tubs slapped together with...
They only worth when the intake is submerged a bit below the surface. Impellers only push water, they do not draw water
Not running on plane or on a trailer is normal
Take your job boat out first, use c-clamps to hold a bit of plywood in place and try to stand on it. Most front casting deck conversions are too unstable to actually use
I agree test drilling the transom and stringers with the motor out
5/16" drill, mark off a drill depth of 1/2" to 3/4"
Drill 2" above the inside of the hull. And check the shavings for moisture/rot
