Tungsten jigs with a wax worm or meal worm.. Any of these will work well for you.
https://www.rapala.com/vmc/jigs/tungsten-jigs/ttj-tungsten-tubby-jig/TTJ+Tungsten+Tubby+Jig.html?cgid=vmc-jigs-tungstenJigs
My X4D probe died during the second season. Of course it was just after the warranty expired. It read 3.4 on the lower temp scale, which according to their website is the kiss of death. I bought a new one before I found out that Fish Hawk will replace them for $100 cheaper than what I paid at the tackle shop if you send it back to them. So I .guess I'm going to have a spare when I do that.
I was buying E-free from the Fastrack in Oswego for years, and last week when I went in for fuel, the E-free sticker was taped over with a 10% ethanol sticker now being sold. Luckily I saw it before I put any in. I went over to the Valero instead.
I use snubbers. I run braid on the diver rods and there's no stretch, and after losing a bunch of fish I figured they were pulling out the hook. I haven't lost any after adding them.
I did the Observer thing last year for the A-Tom-Mik Invitational. I fished with guys I never met on Friday and observed on tournament Saturday. I'd do it for free, just for what I learned from being on those 2 boats.
I wouldn't mind fishing the tournaments, but with only a 20' boat, if the weather doesn't co-operate, I'm done before it started. The A-Tom-Mik a few years back comes to mind, I'm sure even the bigger boats had 2nd thoughts about going out.
My 2 Honda's have a L bracket coming off the motor, and I have an arm connecting them with a small tie rod end on each end and a bolt down thru. I did show it in a pic to another guy trying to do the same thing, but I don't know how to search for that thread.