cutouts
In the late 60s and early 70s it was not unusual to find outboard motors mounted in a well located in the after part of the cockpit, with a fitted "plug" that could be inserted in the well to clean up the bottom profile when desired. Of course this meant lifting the motor out of the well and stowing it somewhere else. It also created an interesting ventilation problem, especially with 2-stroke outboards. Part of their exhaust tended to stay in the well with the result of poorer running of the motor, and motoring downwind could be quite unpleasant with the fumes tending to stay in the cockpit. Some of these well-mounted motors could be raised (cocked up at an angle) but on some of the boats there was not enough clearance to raise the motor and if it was left in place you had to accept the additional drag. So, like any compromise, it solved some problems but created others. No silver bullets...