Raised transom

[valvebounce]

I have a 14ft fibreglass boat with a nice planing hull.It has a dashboard and covered bow.The boat itself is quite light in weight.It has a splashwell at the stern.The transom was too low to even take a shortshaft outboard (by 3 inches)I don't know what engine the previous owner had on it,but he must have had the engine riding low in the water.
The boat is a good design and pretty strong in construction.I am going to run an Evinrude 18hp fastwin on it,I've serviced the engine and it runs sweet.The cavitation plate is now dead inline with the bottom of the transom.I'm hoping this will increase the performance of the boat.The boat has two seats steering and controls.I have a 1999 25hp Johnson that I might put on it,but I think the 18hp will do the deed.
Any opinions will be more than welcome.(I'll be using the boat for inshore fishing)

 

[Scott Danforth]

got a pic. on my wooster, I had 2" of clearance between the top of the transom and the underside of the clamp

on my fishing rig, I have a piece of 2x2 dipped in oil as a spacer

 

[valvebounce]

Not got a picture yet.I had a piece of 1''mahogany loose(not fixed)on the transom and under the brackets.The clamps just about got a grip on the transom,2'' would have not allowed the clamps anything to grip onto.
I used two(one each side.) 1.5'' X 1'' aluminium angle inside the splashwell,(from the bottom of the splashwell to the top of the new 3'' transom piece) on the outside of the transom I used aluminium (3/8'' X 2'') flat bar.Plus 8- 10mm s/steel bolts with locktight nuts.
Drilled through both aluminium and through the transom.
The job is as solid as a rock.
Had to make sure the outboard clamps would fit inbetween the new ally struts.