Advice Needed

[Elcoholic]

I have a 1961 Century Ski Dart that I am going to "personalize" into a double cockpit runabout. My question concerns the transom. As the photo (hopefully it will be below) shows, there is a substantial piece of mahogany along the bottom of the transom. I assume that it has to be there for something...possibly to alter the wake for skiers?

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/matriarchyacht/SD1.jpg

My plan is to remove the entire transom a do substantial remodeling.

[Breakaway]

Cant tell from the pic...is it angled down a few degrees? Might be there to act as a trim tab, keep the bow down.

:confused:

[donald branscom]

I would not get rid of that structure on the transom. It acts as a trim tab and a way to step into the water or onto the boat.