I just filled the holes with ply and fiberglass.
Then I have a welding buddy that I told to take some 3" X 1/2" Flat stock and weld me a bracket with the same bolt patterned as the bracket.
I then ran bolts thur the bracket, transom, and inside bracket. Now the hole transom will have to fall off to lose the motor!!
As for rot spots in these boats, ck the transom real good, the gas tank covers on the floor, and the rear stringers in the bilge. All easy fixes but need to be checked!!