Joe -
You make an interesting point but I would bet that when the idea of building 2 different NS 22s (the inboard with an 8 hp Westie and all the accoutrements 75% aft AND an O/B with a motor hanging off the transom) was floated (pardon the pun), there was no thought given to 2 different "designs" or even subtle changes, etc.
I don't think that these boats differ. Mine has a 125 lb. engine hanging (sadly) even further back than the actual transom, in order to permit it to tilt. The boat sits dead level in the water (even disregarding the 1000 lbs. of desperately required luxuries that Capt. M. Powers insists are aboard .... ). She sails as flat as any other windsurfer with a toaster-oven and flat-screen TV and motors at almost 6 knots at about 2/3 throttle, still reasonably flat. Yes, arse-on, that motor isn't the saltiest, most traditional or prettiest thing but, at least, it's not Day-Glo orange. I do not authorize any photos to be taken of the bum of my boat (unless I take them).
I've attached a photo of MOUSTACHES heading back after a sail. I had just bought my new engine and it was not sitting quite as deep in the water as it is now (it's about 6" too high in the photo). The boat looks pretty level. Personally, I think that re-designs should be routine considering the weight of the skipper, not the motor.
I single-hand MOUSTACHES almost all the time (as other club sailors are, wisely, too afraid to go out with me ... and my Sandra doesn't like to sail). My engine makes motoring, docking and departing an absolute breeze. It is locked into a forward position and the boat is steered strictly with the tiller. This model of my engine has no tiller and is run from a typical remote throttle with choke, key, kill-switch, etc., mounted on the starboard side. The engine is screwed onto the thick plastic pad of the movable motor mount (using the 2 typical large "screw" thingies that one finds on any motor) and is also bolted and locked to it and the rest of the mount. It is stealable (just like an Airstream trailer, an airplane or one's Toyota 4-runner) but it would, indeed, take a gorilla with a chainsaw and lots of poor judgment to attempt to do so. And, it's all covered up from prying eyes, in the winter (of our collective discontent) when the boat is on the hard. Motors that are not locked and bolted (and I mean bolted) to their respective boats do get swiped - a lot.. If you don't want your Toyota 4-runner to take a walk ( or a drive) use a "Club" on the steering wheel. They work, according to the cops. Besides, who would run to the "aid" of a poor vehicle being stolen when they hear a car alarm ?? These, days, you might be met with a gunshot blast - not worth it.
Sorry - I drifted off topic but I wanted to address the theft issue which is a valid point.
To sum up, I still support the idea of Steven switching out his existing power setup to something completely different, on a 22' 35= year old recreational vessel. I truly support the notion of electric power, on the right vessel, given it's use, etc.
Ernie A. in Toronto (where the temperature seems to swing wildly, from day to day)