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Thanks for the replies.

HR, I hope I caught this before structural repair. The bow in the transom seems to have become greater as I was doing work on the rest of the boat. I am hoping for an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Petrus. I am in 100% agreement. My first option was the over transom stiffening. However, I have customized stainless rails that include the top of the transom that makes that detail prohibitive. I am planning to weld the aluminum channel a 1/2 " down from the top of the transom and spread the plate the maximum width before the transom curves start. I am leaving the 1/2" as a weldable area in case I need additional bar stock.

I am interested in others that installed Jack Plates for their boats. Is that 3/8" curvature over 4 feet standard or should I be concerned with structural integrity. Either way I am installing the larger plate, but is the channel necessary?

Garris