looking to replace the transom on my 15' foot jon boat. to put a 23 hp surface drive mudbuddy. any advice on removing the rivets to replace the old wood with new wood. thinking of going with s.s. bolts and nuts in place of the rivets there is some pic attached. any advice helpful thank you

I would just drill out the rivets, pull the wood you need, out of there, put fresh wood if you must do it, and then go back with stainless bolts and sealant!

Make sure you reinforce the transom as much as possible! Mudmotors give a transom hell!

Maybe get a local welder to rebuild it out of aluminum. My cousin had to do that on his 1546, had the wood trans for 2 weeks before the gdsd messed it up. Not a single problem after the rebuild.