[macojoe]

well how was the rest of the boat?? Any soft spots in the deck, cracks in the gell coat, when looking in the bildge could you get a look at the rear stringers?? This is were alot of them rot.

As for the transome, they just might have wanted to reinforce it??
Tell him you will only buy if you can test the transome core, do this by drilling a small hole from the inside of the boat into the wood. If dirt comes out it is junk, if clean wood comes out your good to go!
Just bring a small tube of 5200 to fill the holes, 1/8 to 1/4 hole is all you need.

As for the motor, boats that stay in the water get alot of things as they never get flushed, and they should get a whole new water pump every year!! and thats all it might needs?

Tell him you also like to do a compression teat, only takes a few min. to do.

Good Luck.