1973 20' CC Transom woes

[pianewman]

I've found a shop in the VA. Bch area (Coastal Fiberglass) to replace the transom, for much less than FL, and I can keep the boat closer to me. (I may not give it back to my 88-year-old dad, for many reasons, some of then quite selfish!) The repair person and I were examining the boat yesterday, and he commented that "No dealer should have hung that motor on there w/o checking the transom. It's in terrible shape", as he tapped and demonstrated that most of it sounded hollow, and showed me how much it all flexed when weight is applied to the motor. He was as disgusted as we are. Curiously, he was able to name the dealer (brand) shop that did it, although his experience with the brand was in the Va Bch area, not Bradenton.

So, while looking at the mounting, he questioned the height of the cavitation plate. Remember, this is a 1973, 20' CC, 450+lb., 150hp Mercury 2-stroke motor. Currently, the cav plate is almost 1" higher than the keel. Is this correct? The transom bracket (the part that LOOKS like it should hang on the cut-out)is about 3 inches higher than the cut-out, and the transom (which must have been replaced) is 25".

Thanks for input. He wants to know where WE want the engine mounted. He has his ideas, but wants our input.