The bracing is a good idea. I ran a rivetted 1436 w/18 HP GD LT for several years, and the 1/8" alum. U plate I slipped on the transom held up. Important standard equipment you should have: working kill switch w/lanyard (use it!), auto bilge (backup manual bilge pump), PFD's, running lights, flagpole and flag for visibility in the marsh, emergency lights and horn, flares, all necessary tools, spare fuses-fuel line-clamps-throttle-plugs-grease gun-prop.
Indicated mods: steelflex or gatorglide the hull bottom; tweak the throttle for a few hundred rpm gain; alum floor with closed cell flotation under floor and between ribs; hydroturf for surfaces; battery and/or gas tank placed in front; trollling motor bow/mount; DIY scissors blind for boat; synthetic oil and grease. Whew, that's a start.
