I have a 1984 Wellcraft Sportsman. There is a void area between the bottom of the hull and the bottom of the plywood core of the transom. This void area is glassed in, but a hole was cut through the fiberglass layer to allow water to drain from the boat. This hole allows water in the bilge to fill the void and wet the plywood core. This is especially true when giving it the gas, as any water in the bilge gets thrown back to the rear of the boat.<br /><br />This doesn't seem like very good boatbuilding to me, but I was wondering if it was intended to be that way in order to allow the plywood to drain or dry out or something. It seems to me that any wood in the stringers or transom should be completely protected from any source of moisture.<br /><br />The plywood core is still sound (boat was never stored in the water). If it should be moisture-proof, I had planned to grind away the fiberglass layer that creates this void, dry the wood thoroughly, then lay in new fiberglass to encase the plywood core and prevent its exposure to bilge water.<br /><br />I'd appreciate your advice/opinions on this matter. Thank you.<br /><br />Joe F.