I am thinking that I should remove the old plug that is leaking as this boat was surely built in the seventies or before. It used to have a round id tag riveted to the gunnel had red painted sides, full aluminum seats. Now it has become a project as it had backed into something and the transom was pushed in and needed some straightening. When i found leak I also found that transom needs to be re-enforced, thinking that having a stronger piece of aluminum welded in or onto back of transom and putting in stronger re-enforcement's from gunnel to transom?. I am running a yamaha 8 hp 4 stroke short leg and finding that i should have some kind of ballast in bow to offset motor and me weight , any easy suggestions would be appreciated.