So to elaborate on the overall plan so it may or may not make more sense if anyone is interested but also to see this laid out for myself:
Color:
This boat was originally two tone, Avocado/White, later painted monotone / all white.
Plan is for the entire cockpit deck to be excessively orange. Picture opposite of a creamsicle. I know it's bright, so is white, don't want grey. Even the cabin exterior may be orange as well, like SC would've done. I really like the classic two tone paint schemes that went away after the 70's and 80's. Starcrafts and trucks (like my 87 Bronco II for example) of the era looked great two tone.
Overall purpose:
This boat will be in the bay mostly, but also cruising to near shore areas just off the coast in good weather. Leisure cruising, exploring, fishing, coastal cleanups, and tending to a few lobster pots hopefully. Trying to keep it economical for what it is. I've gotten surprising economy out of a very mild built but clean running 302 on land so hoping it'll chug this aluminum hull around nicely.
Cabin focus- making the cabin to better accommodate cooking, reading, hobby research, and for entertaining.
Cockpit focus- open utilitarian for versatility, railings for safety and bulky light gear storage(beach chairs, paddle board maybe). Small aluminum jib crane for pots.
Aft- largest possible swim platform I can make work. Full width and 24"+ depth is the goal. Easy access to platform, steps. Integrated kicker motor mount for backup propulsion - the real "don't leave home without it".
This is what mine must've looked like originally in its two tone scheme:
I know hardly anyone likes orange.. but there is going to be a whole lot of it elsewhere on the boat so I'm not peeling away from the tangerine course. 
