:welcome: to iboats Goswimajig. nice for you to join us...
I have never used a recessed foot control in a boat. I have used foot control trolling motors but not in a fixed recess cutout. The only thing I can see is that recessed area is then dedicated to the foot control and even if you remove the foot control and use it in some other area, that cutout is still there. I guess there could be a flush cover to lay over it when the foot control is out. IDK. I thought about install one at one time. But since decided to forgo it. But that is just my opinion.
As for your question. Unless there is something beneath the wood platform, I can't see any reason you couldn't install such a recess. Just verify there is nothing underneath to keep it from fitting in properly. And if you can't see underneath, try drilling a very small test holes at what would be the four corners. If you hit anything, STOP drilling and that will give you your info you questioned about. JMHO.
