I/O to Bracket Conversion - patch outside first?

[captsuperfly]

I'm starting work on a 23 SF and converting the I/O to a bracket.

I'm replacing the transom core from the inside, leaving the outside skin intact.

After I remove the old core and grind the inside of the transom to prep, I'm going to lay a few layers of glass before installing the core. Since I want the glass I'm laying to be nice and flat and bond with the core, should I fill the mechanical holes (for the outdrive etc) on the from the outside first? So there's something behind the 1708 when I glass the inside of the transom before installing the core?