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I don't follow you. If one can't drill holes in the right spot, they probably shouldn't be trying to install a jackplate either. A jackplate won't fix stupid.

Jackplates can have dramatic influence on a boat's handling and speed in some instances on some boats. I do not think a 40 HP tiller steered motor on a 16'-7" Whaler is any sort of high-performance rig that would benefit.

Repowering in the future is one very good reason to get the transom bolt holes on the industry standard BIA lay-out now, so its done with once and for all. Trying to accommodate those old blind holes just delays the inevitable the next time a new motor is installed. That makes no sense to me.