New Monty owner here. Great place here with a great group of people and great info.! I had several M17 questions and was hoping the fine minds around here could impart some wisdom. BTW - Can a search be made by topic? I hope you don't get too bored with my many more questions to come. 1. Outboard HP size - What size outboard are you guys using? I sail in lakes and and So. Cal ocean. I will be purchasing a 4 stroke and was thinking Nissan/Tohatsu 4-6 hp. All three weigh the about the same (55-57lbs) and are within a couple of hundred bucks of each other. Thoughts? 2. Outboard brackets - My boat came equipped with an outboard bracket on starboard side of transom. I asked and previous owner stated that rudder hits OB when steering hard to one or both sides? Since I do not have a motor to test this I was wondering if the OB bracket is common. I'd prefer to use the original cut out section on port side and place a swim ladder on starboard side. Have any of you filled in cut out and placed an OB bracket on port side? If so, what was your reason? 3. Cockpit drain - Have any of you modified/improved the original set up? I was considering a 1 1/2 " through hull at rear of cockpit (vertical install) and exiting straight back at transom with another 1 1/2 " through hull (as new boats are done). Transom through hull would/should be above water line. New boats use 2 drains (1 at each corner of rear cockpit section) since floor is flat. My boat has the cockpit that dips in rear/center at drain so 1 drain at center is all that would work. 4. While looking inside hatches toward rear starboard side near transom, I found a piece of fiberglass that is mushroom/cave shaped and appears factory original. What is this? 5. Mast Raising - How are you guys raising your masts? I saw the set up on new boats and it looks pretty good (telescoping pole attached at bow of trailer where one would attach a block at top of pole and use block/tackle to raise with halyard). Thanks, Carlos Hemet, CA 1979 M 17 Hull #302