If it is just the area around the exhaust and below it but if it hasn't gone too far it can be spot repaired. Just cut out the bad in a square and the layer below slightly smaller. Just fill it back in with wood making each layer a step bigger in all directions. Should be as strong as the original if done right. Test for hollow spots and drill some test holes. ( just don't drill through to the outside.)

$4600 but that was just glass work. Motors were pulled and I took rigging out.

That's similar to the price I paid for my scarab. Same deal, I pulled motors and de rigged the boat.

Did Fountain have some bad manufacturing/quality control years or is the transom and stringer rot caused by specific conditions? I've read that fresh water only boats are more prone to rot than salt water boats and it happens to boats stored on trailers, not just those kept in the water.

Almost every builder from that era had water intrusion issues. If you talk to Glassdave about it he has done boats from almost every manufacturer who built boats in the 90's. Yes fountain did a terrible job on sealing up the exhaust holes or any holes they cut for that matter. My 98 42' didn't have sealer on a single hole they drilled other than the motor mount bolts. All the adel clamps for the fuel lines, batt cables and all the other rigging was left unsealed. Those stringers that had all the rigging attached to them all were made of hay!!

Now THAT would pi$$ me off royally!!! a 4 year old boat!

Man that sucks.

I saw a thread somewhere on OSO last year about water leaking around Fountain exhaust tips, and I immediately removed mine to check and seal. Fortunately, mine had sealer behind the trim rings, but it was clearly old and needed to be replaced.

It's looking it will be finished late next week. Talked to Jason yesterday, most definitely will be putting new exhaust tips on with a flange that can be sealed! So excited to get it in the water with the new power! I can't thank those guys enough for getting right on the job.

I saw your boat inside over the week end. Looks good

Performance also built an engine for my fathers 22 pachenga over the winter. 450hp out of a 454, he hasn't had it in the water yet but I think it's going to be a bit of a sleeper.