Meance, $1600 doesnt sound all that bad if its done right. The problem with using Seacast is that usually when the transom is wet and rotten so is the first couple of inches or even feet of the stringers. If your transom guy is going to do the transom from the inside he would be able to repair the stringers if they needed it. Then you would be good as new. The other problem with the seacast is digging the old wood out of the transom, unless its absolutely mush which sounds like yours isnt that bad its difficult to get the good wood out. I was going to use the seacast on my first V-20 but after a couple of hours with a chainsaw, chisels and pry bars I gave in. Boat never did get finished, it went to the dump.