Jere Lull wrote:

If, on the third hand, you can actually retract the Johnson into the
well when it's not in use, you may have to make a decision.

Well this would be the ideal situation. The boat was originally spec'd
to have an 8hp short shaft that would retract into the lazarette with a
sleeve that would lower down to cover the well opening. I'd like to
recreate this rig, but the issue is not being able to get a remote
start/throttle/shift kit for the smaller Honda motors.