[bigeasy1]

There's a couple things i see that i are not right. ask the seller what in the world is a deck plate doing on the outside of the transom?.Did you unscrew it and check inside?See if you can feel the wood core.

The aluminum plate where the outdrive bolts to is not normal,and is there for one of two reasons.#1 is that the transom core is bad,or #2 it's some kind of adapter plate to fit with that outdrive,although the outdrive in the picture(at least the upper part)is an early 70's to early 80's model,so it shouldn't need that aluminum plate.

Mabe I'm wrong,but I think the price is high for this boat,and from the picture you posted,I'm thinking that once you start digging,you're going to find lots of areas that need replacement.
I'm sure some other guys will chime in to give their advice.

You may want to keep looking,there are other seacrafts around,and prices now in this economy are pretty good.There was a nice 20'scepter that sold for $6,000.00 near me a couple of months ago,and it was in good condition.They are around,you just have to keep looking,and be patient.