[BigMike8o9]

Bill, Thanks for all your info, I wasn't trying to offend anybody but I wanted to say that I didn't think that Don was blindly recomending anything because we had talked about transom condition right off.
Back to road conditions...Baja sucks road wise. I've found it easier to tow off road then on in some places. Picture driveing over speed bumps or parking stop. Add to that dead cows around some of the curves and live ones plus throw in over aged over crowded buses on two wheels doing seventy MPH around those mountain top curves. While the people inside are cheering and holding livestock.
I was going to make a brace to hold the outboards up but I really believe in a belt and susspenders in cases like that.
Loading accross the transom is good but the strongest places on the transom are on the bottom and side as well as the stringers. Because I'm taking out the back of the deck it allows me to get the best access to the stringer wich to some extent are the most important components to the boat being strong, like a keel on a wooden boat.
If you look at the pictures on Hermco site, I believe that's the best way. The diference is that I will use the aluminum to save a few pound per side and as I said I will try to keep bolt compression to a minimum. That is that the wood could compress and let the bracket work on the transom.
If I do replace the transom I will cut it completely out, Not just recore it. That's my plan anyhow. I haven't found any rot so far.