I have a 2010 G3 1860 CC with a Yamaha F90 and now that hunting season is over I am wanting to do a remodel i guess you could say before the spring gets here. The previous owner obviously didn't take much care in storing the boat which is the root of most of what I am trying to get done.

First off the main thing I am doing and have already started the process is replacing the fiberglass console with a custom built aluminum one and repainting the whole rig. The fiberglass as started cracking and most of the screw holes where the console connects to the floor have cracked and busted causing it be very wobbly and rattles a lot.

Second, since I have i will have console out, I plan on pulling the subfloor and removing the completely saturated, water logged foam. Now my first question, does the foam offer support and stability for the subfloor? it appears to be a pretty then gauge aluminum but haven't looked at much more than the very edge.

Third, while all the controls will be disconnected I plan swapping the out the steering system. Now I know which is better overall but with a 90 horse is the 550ish BayStar hydraulic system worth the extra dough over the no feed back systems on that small of a motor? SeaStar is not an option but I do want at the minimum NFB.

Fourth, I'll be pulling the motor for the repainting process at this point i considered putting a jack plate on the hull. Will I see enough benefit for this rig setup to be spend another 350+?

Sell the hull and get one in aluminum.

Foam helps deaden the noise, not really that helpful in a structural sense unless it's really packed in there.

I would do the jack plate. They're very handy, and worth the money imo.

.

Well that's sneaky

Step one is done then.

I saw fiberglass then jumped to conclusions.

Sorry, fiberglass console in an aluminum boat.

Any insight on the steering.

Is your G3 a tunnel hull with pods - or - ribbed flat bottom with no pods ???

That makes a big difference on steering - either style when you use a hydrolic
jack with 6" or more of lift you will find that as you lift the motor - it turns easier
and easier and there is much less steering torque and feedback.... Sunk way
down you get a ton of reverse power which is often handy too....

IMO - a hydrolic jack and water pressure gauge are the two best add-ons that
I had on my G3 tunnel... You can prevent overheats better with the water pressure
gauge - temp gauges never move till it is too late... Also went to the 3 blade Stelleto
prop which worked great even when lifted way up with the jack... Think I still have
one if you need it - a DWI driver totaled the rig a few years back.... Miss that G3...

Ribbed flat no pods. Was more leaning toward a manual jack due to the fact that I don't really need it for shallow water but more for the performance benefits, that's why I wasn't sure if it would be worth it on a non performance hull. From my understanding the jack plates don't help much for shallow water running unless you do have a tunnel correct?