If the transom is still the original transom from 1976 the chances that your transom is still in good shape are very unlikely. If it was me I would replace it now. “when in doubt through it out” when it comes to boats and boat safety. That’s a 30 year piece of plywood with several holes that have been drilled in it and possibly have or have not been dealt with correctly. Plus you have the weight and torque of a 200 + hp motor sitting on the back for all those years. When I did my 1976 I had black mush in there.
Thanks to Jayson check out this
www.classicseacraft.com/fellowship
FellowShip
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My motto: Just for the Grins [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]