Only hear good reports on FC boats - having down sized in 2013 to a Mac360  I got caught with a 30hp electric start manual trim remote steer - ended up retrofitting a power trim which was costly and difficult as i hated having manual tilt and did not realise till stuck with it.

Of any current alloys boats, it is the FC that stand out for me based on so many comments, propping , re powers ..
 Its as if they have taken the classic SN/ haines sea boat gull wings of the 70s with the steep bow at the water line where hits chop.
 I would go min 30hp, pref a little more once loaded up for fishing.
 And go electric trim for sure.. it will make a huge difference to getting on the plane, and how the boat rides (level) and how handles a little bit of chop.

I had the FC500 C/C which is basically an extended FC430 that was a wonderful boat to own. The build quality was excellent with the stability of a pontoon boat without the wetness - the dryness of these boats is legendary. During the 3 years of ownership we took it everywhere like the Mokes, Both Barrier Islands and many Manukau bar crossing. At all times we felt very safe in this stable and unsinkable boat.

A good owners review of the FC430T on youtube

The FC 390 had cracking issues with the 3mm hull not sure about the 430 ....

 Im not so sure about that...
 I just , by coincidence posted this in another thread a few minutes ago..

......Do you hold the boat down on the trailer with a strop across the gunnels or 2 stops from transom down to the trailer type of thing?
 Glass boats should never be held down with a stop across the gunnels.. this is the primary reason the get gelcoat stress cracks
Discussing this a while back with engineer who specialises in alloy .. he said the same stress would be made on alloy boats. I pointed out that some brands of smaller tinnies in particular are prone to seat weld etc cracking...and he confirmed immediately that if held down across the transom this would eventually happen...

My fc390 weld cracked. More from poorly configured front roller on trailer and unsprung trailer. Very minor and easily fixed. Great boat.

Mine has the canopy with clears and I fitted a rocket launcher in the first summer. I like your idea of the flat boards to hold the tote tanks on. I’ve got storage for eight rods under gunnels 4 each side. I haven’t used live bait as that’s not my thing maybe one day. But yea reel stable had 3 adults and 2 teenagers out from Whangarei but most of the time I go solo from Stanmore bay, Shelly beach or Te Atatu. I’ve changed the jockey wheel on the trailer to a make beach launching easier. I’ve recently scored a recovery Winch to make beach recovery’s easier as my Ute is a 2WD drive.

Steps wrote: The FC 390 had cracking issues with the 3mm hull not sure about the 430 ....  Im not so sure about that...  I just , by coincidence posted this in another thread a few minutes ago.. ......Do you hold the boat down on the trailer with a strop across the gunnels or 2 stops from transom down to the trailer type of thing?  Glass boats should never be held down with a stop across the gunnels.. this is the primary reason the get gelcoat stress cracks Discussing this a while back with engineer who specialises in alloy .. he said the same stress would be made on alloy boats. I pointed out that some brands of smaller tinnies in particular are prone to seat weld etc cracking...and he confirmed immediately that if held down across the transom this would eventually happen...

Thats ok I'm sure..... I owned one and so did a friend and they both cracked..

 My comment was general, not pointed at any brand , alloy or glass hull in particular...
Just general point to good care... best practice ???
 I wonder, where they straped across the gunnels or down from transom?
 Wonder if the original design was for gunnel or transom?
On many brands of glass boats modern and old there are tie down points for transom on cross members of the original trailers. On older boats the rear cross member and on modern that cross member is well under the boat.. crawl under to get to it..
 Yet ppl will throw a strop across the gunnels , strap down, often way more than required.. Being close they dont see the gunnels actually pull in.. but obvious when watch to one side

 Just a bit of food for thought, best practice??

I've owned an FC430 tiller for 3 1/2 years now. I only fish in Taranaki with it and regularly cross a bar although a very moderate 1 at that.