it is just a piece of wood laminate over (level) to mounting things

I figured it needed to come out so I have room to put in the thicker transom core. However I was not sure what its purpose or construction was. So thank you very much.

years ago someone called those the battery boxes...where your arrow is pointing...I believe they are made from wood...at least the ones on my old 23cc were and they were rotton so I'd yank them

strick

All right back at it, mom visited for a week then I was out of town for a week.

Supplies, epoxy, glass and ply have arrived.

Got a layout table put together and a glass rack built.

Got the transom skin all cleaned up, 3/4" marine ply cut and fitted. Tested my idea of how to keep the transom flat as my epoxy slowly cures. If the weather forecast for Sunday is correct at 61 degrees, I'll start filling in the notch.

All cleaned up.

Looks like a vertical mill in the corner.

Yes it is, full size Excello, the lathe sits to the left of it and the surface grinder to the left of that.
Hard to see right now as I have 50 lbs crammed into a 10 lb box, so to speak...

Cleanup is eminent!

Sweet! Machinist here also and following your build.

I would love to call myself a machinist, but I have too much respect for you all. I have fun with it and have enjoyed learning something new, but a machinist I am not. Just a hobby for me.

I flipped some of your pictures...hope I did not screw anything up!

strick