once again ... thanks for all of your replies!!

sooo ... it looks as though I am going to simply undo the straps (my term for what holds down the) on the floats and move them back. this will push the floats forward and beyond the prop (3 or so inches). this will also rectify my CG/step issue.

last question before i perform the work ...

will it matter if the back gear is sitting a couple (2 or 3) inches from the back of the floats? if so, then it appears as though i will have to abandon the gear and where it sits on my airplane (aka - the back landing gear of the tri-gear plane).

Thanks in advance!

Dan