Montura 208si Engine Compartment Question

[MConway 0]

I recently purchased a 2003 Monterey Montera 208si. The image below is my engine compartment; can anyone tell me what the square framed foam padding on the port compartment is/was for? I saw some references to a storage area with 4 eye-bolts on some boats but I don't have anything there that could be used to tie anything down.

 

Thanks,

 

Patrick