1973 20' CC Transom woes

[pianewman]

Thanks in advance for any input on this.

I've taken temporary possession of my dad's 1973 20' CC. I was planning on using it on Lake Anna, VA, pulling a wakeboard, as well as some fishing on Sinepuxant Bay/Chincoteague, VA. I've now been told I need a new transom.

The boat was purchased 18 months ago for $8k, on a 2002 Continental tandem trailer, and in December 2010 re-powered with a new (leftover) 2008 Mercury. ($10k)

In trying to find a leak that was filling the boat @ 2gal/15 minutes, I discovered that the area around the 2 lower engine mount bolts is crushed, and the two mounting holes were extensively filled with 3M 5200. Two separate boat repair shops at Lake Anna, VA, and a fiberglas expert in Fredericksburg, VA have advised me that the transom must be replaced. Their proof is that when you lift up on the engine, you can see the transom flexing around the mounting bolts. Also, there are several hollow sounding spots across the entire transom that don't sound like simple gelcoat delamination.

The marine shop in Fredericksburg, VA, has quoted me a price of $3800...YIKES! He replaces the entire transom, edge to edge, with a product called "Coosa", 1 1/2" thick. He would also raise the top edge of the engine cutout so that the Mercury 150 would actually rest on the cutout, instead of floating 3 1/2" above it, the way it is now, with the entire weight of the engine resting on the 4 bolts.

There are no soft spots anywhere on the deck, and all 3 gentlemen commented that it was "a great looking boat", well worth the cost of transom replacement.

Question: My dad has about $20k in the boat already, it has a fabulous T-top, on a 2002 Continental tandem trailer with a new front axle with completely new brake system. He keeps the boat in Bradenton, FL. Should I have my (almost)local guy do the job here, or drag it back to the Bradenton area and have it done there? Who might be a recommended shop (I suppose anywhere in FL) if he decides to have it done there?

Is $3800 a fair price?

Thanks again for any input. My dad owned a 73 Seafari, quickly moved up to a 1974 Tsunami I/O (the 1972-3 [?] O/B Johnson, combined with the deep transom cutout of the Seafari scared him). He sold the Tsunami, mint condition, in 1989 or 1990 in the Va Beach area. We, as a family, love the Seacraft design, but are experiencing, for the first time, the woes of a major rebuilding process.

Thanks again for reading.

Ed in Arlington, VA.