On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 19:29:12 -0500, "sel1"
wrote:

re your comment on over torquing, the nuts are pretty small (3/8) and I
could easily see that happening but Jim has me thinking more of rot (wet or
dry) than I care to now. The transom is about 12' X 3.5' and the plywood
core is at least 2" thick. Yikes! $$$$

The last time I checked, which was about two months ago, a 4'X8'X1"
sheet of fir marine plywood was right about $160 a sheet.. If you
thump out the suspect area, you may find that the you will be able to
scab in plywood and make the transom as strong as it ever was.

The other way to tell how bad the wood might be is to beg. borrow or
steal a moisture meter and check it that way.

In either case you may not wish to use a backing plate, in particular
if a large area is rotten. It's only going to create more stress on
the transom.

It's a tough one.

Later,

Tom