Was gonna be me NEW response
COOTS, some folk here call them "J E S U S "(when they spook and start running in dark LOL)...water walkers! They are usually in big flocks and seems they can ONLY fly 4 inches above water and have no leg strength. I know some people eat them and they have a VERY OPEN limit per Duck season, then again I dont care much for Duck
YES, My Bass Boat had a Plate like that as well. Probably about 8 inches just forward of Transom. Once you got her planed out and trimmed thats just about all the contact you had. My OutBoard had a Trim...cant remember what it was PROPERLY CALLED, for TURN TRIM. Its a small Aluminum/Zinc Circle with a "SKEG"-Angled post hanging down. So if turning right was too hard..just twist it to the left type deal. I never had to mess with this really. UNTIL the last boat I had. EVERY TIME I trailered to AL, mine would disappear
(NO not trailer Park---trailer Boat
). Dont know if it was the rougher roads or some idiot collected them. Anyway, when it was attached it held in place the Water Filter for motor cooling. So I noticed it missing, after about the 3rd time this happened MY FRIEND/Fishing Partner decides to PERMANENTLY FIX IT
Whats a little LOK-TITE.....Only he didnt pay attention to where that Steering trim post was. Talk about hard to turn left, it was near impossible at speeds above 30mph. Imagine my dismay when I went to adjust it
HEY, he COULD FISH...his only saving grace too