Might be a bad time of year to get into such a project, but it is doable. I did it on a 17.5 Sylvan.
What is critical is that you get the proper plywood. Do not think you can use treated plywood as the ACQ eats aluminum.
I had to redo the carpet floor anyways so stripped the whole boat apart.
What you will quickly learn is how cheap Boat Builders really are. Your Transom is 3 sheets of 3/4 inch plywood in most cases. the transom cap is just thin sheet metal.
If you are up to the project, try to do better and get some 1/2 inch by 4 inch aluminum and fit it to the width of the transom. Where the motor bolts to the Top of the transom router out a space and put the aluminum plate into the wood bedded with Silicone INSIDE the transom plate.
Where the motor bolts on the bottom of the transom, put the aluminum plate on the OUTSIDE of the Transom plate. Outboards PUSH from the Bottom, and PULL from the top. With proper reinforcing plates, the forces are spread across the transom and the flex is taken out of the transom.
But if this job is too big, see if you can locate Darren at AQUA Marine.
Drewski
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