Well that was close

[Timm R Oday25]

For the past year or so ,I've noticed a crack in the outboard support block get bigger . Curiosity got the better of me . You cannot view this attachment.
After peeling back the crack , I found 40
Year old mulch .
I made a new version , (actually several ) .
When I mounted the new version , I had to crawl down into the cockpit . These were what was holding the outboard on ! You cannot view this attachment.
Not exactly what I am going to trust with the new outboard

[Spot]

On my boat, there is no external plate. The internal plate is something 'plastic-y' like sheet PVC. If I needed to redo it would probably be in G10 or FR4 (fiberglass board). Adding the external plate is a good idea if the transom seems to need it.

I remade the motor pad a few years ago with plywood laminated to plywood and covered in fiberglass cloth and opaque tinted epoxy resin. Going on 7 years without issue.

[Timm R Oday25]

The second photo is of the inside backing plates . The replacement backing plate was thoroughly soaked in epoxy .
 I added a stainless plate over the epoxy soaked plywood . Even though this neccessitated crawling under the
cockpit ,at least I know it was done correctly . I also found a long sought after source of a leak .
The cockpit drain thru hull was leaking from the flange itself