transom repair or replace?

[hugo]

just wanted to say thanks for the info, it is a 73 your dead on. my biggest consern was safty as i have the family with me so i am getting closer to biteing the bullet and replace the entire transom rather than try and patch it. my biggest fear is this thing opening up on the water one day and losing more than my boat. i hate to do it since we havent had it long and were realy looking forward to using it alot. hope it wont take to long. im gonna have to do it my self as prices for this work is about half what i paid for the boat.