Should all Potter era transoms be replaced?

[erock]

Hi everyone. I'm contemplating buying a '78 Sceptre (outboard version) with original transom reinforced with a stainless plate. I'm wary that there may be rot and have a surveyor looking at it next week. Seems like most people with Potter era boats redo their transom. Does anyone still run their boat with the original transom? And can they last 40+ years if well taken care of?

[Old'sCool]

Why would anyone install a reinforcement plate if the transom is 100%?

[DonV]

"original transom reinforced with a stainless plate"

Hint....hint!! There's a reason the SS plate is there.

[strick]

what they said...

strick

[rcnight]

While you’re in there, might as well look at the fuel tank.

[JUST JOHN]

My '77 has the original transom, and I know I'm on borrowed time. I removed a kicker a few years ago and the plywood was wet where it was bolted. The transom still seems very stiff with no noticeable flex...idk

[SnafuFishTeam]

Here’s a look at the wood in the transom from my 77’. Boat was in great shape, stored indoors most of its life and never in the water. Definitely check the tank in the process as stated above! DonV is spot on. Picture is upside down sorry.

[Capt Chuck]

Looks like my '78

[Capt Terry]

I finished my transom repair exactly a year ago on my 76 Seafari. The boat had been in the water for several years behind our house and the water damage was worse in the area of the engine bolts. All of my exploratory holes revealed moisture but they were portions of the transom that obviously were quite solid because of the difficulty that I had removing the wood with the forward and aft sheet still installed for a Seacast pour. I also found a few locations where the original plywood sheets were nailed together- Not too kind to the chain saw blade!

[lelandtampa]

My 78 seemed solid trailering it home with a 115 Suzuki 4 stroke on it but after I took the aluminum trim off the top.. the mulch and ants that were visible told me all I needed to know.