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Thanks for the responses, Phil, and for the compliment. It feels to be down to a naked hull. In addition to the repower cost, another factor in the decision to go whole-hog on the restoration was how well our personally-made cushions and refinished teak came out. They are just to o nice to put on a boat with a touched-up crappy paint job.

Good to hear about the partition sheet. I am putting two batteries in the console, so I may go ahead and make a partition for a side hatch-dedicated compartment to keep wet PFDs out of the way. I will use two walls instead of three to avoid wasting so much space. If anybody has any clever ideas for organizing console space, I'd like to hear them.

I guess the mystery of the 3" hole will go unsolved! At least I know it isn't some sort of rare, horribly expensive standard fitting I'm missing. I'll just glass it in. Too bad the hole isn't located where the cutout for the fire extinguisher box will go.

Finnegan's craftsmanship and attention to detail are astounding, and almost depressing! His console photos will help me get the FE box properly positioned, and I am considering the possibility co-opting his idea of using wood to replace the plastic instrument panels. I like those courtesy lights, too.