RE: flaps on float planes
I always wanted to put flaps on my Senior Telemaster because the glide is so flat. Flaps would steepen that up so I wouldn't have to be so close to the bushes on the opposite shore when I'm coming in. Real flaps, though....not flaperons.
I have not been happy when I tried flaperons. Flaperons always seem to cause my plane to have tipstalling problems and adverse yaw. Adverse yaw and tip stalling are not the kinds of things that add enjoyment to my flying experience. I DO use the elevator/flaperon mixer on my "Jerry's Little Boy". When I put a Hanger9 superstik on floats rigged with zero incidence I found it necessary to use the flap mixing to get it off the water.