congrats on your new boat. kind of looks familiar. good to see another 245 out there. how many hours are on the boat? it a lot of work buffing it out but it will be worth it when you are done

I agree with the expressed concerns with the trailer set up. There is only a winch strap, no safety chain or turnbuckle tie down chain. I use a roller trailer and I have both a safety chain and turn buckle tie down chain. Of course rear straps also. That winch post is not at all properly braced. There needs to be a brace attached to the forward top end of the post, down to the trailer tongue. If you had o stop suddenly the weight of that big boat could easily snap that post.

Is this a Cobra drive system (many FWs of this era were because OMC owned FW then). If so we have a lot of knowledge on how to get them shifting well. Make sure all the safety stuff is in good shape (fuel tank fittings, hoses, bilge pump, auto switch, etc) before you put it in the water. Has the drive been serviced ( drive oil changed, oil checked for water, bellows checked for leaks, gimble bearing, u-joints and driveshaft splines greased, shifter bell crank in the pivot housing cleaned out and greased)?? All this should be done each year. The Cobra should shift very easily, if it's stiff into or out of gear get it looked at promptly. How about the impeller (raw water pump) in the upper drive housing? This is another very important maintenance item.