Grady White Tournament 197 fixer upper

[Ocean Airbrush]

I recently purchased a Grady White Tournament 197 with a 4.3 mercruiser for $1700. It has a nice float on tandem axle aluminum trailer which I figure was worth at least a grand.
The boat had some minor engine problems due to severe lack of maintanence but the hull is stout and the transom and stringers solid. I have only found rot in one place and that is the starboard engine mount. The wood inside it has virtually all rotted away. Would it be best to laminate marine ply and put it back to stock or simply clean and fill the void with some thickened epoxy along with some chop for reinforcement? Due to the rotation of the engine the port side mount bears all of the torque from the engine so this mount primarily just supports the weight. I figured a 100% fiberglass repair would never rot again and since this is the only boat I'll get to have for a very long time, I find that concept very appealing.
Suggestions appreciated.

 

[CTJeff]

Re: Grady White Tournament 197 fixer upper

Ocean-
It seems like they all start out this way, then your pullin the engine and gutting her out. You deffinitely can try your own suggestions, just evaluate your risks. Will you be re-doing it during boating season a half year from now? do you like the boat alot ? will the bvoat be damaged more by delaying the repair, etc.. a tuff call I know, because in late august I had a leaky bellows and it turned into a gut out re-do. I'm still working on it. First search this site or go to westsystem.com for a look at what you may or may not want to do.
Jeff