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I am repowering my 2005 Ventura 180. Currently, the boat is equipped with its original 2004 Mercury 115 Four Stroke, which is being replaced by a 2019 Suzuki 150. I have a few questions which might be simple for some of you more experienced guys.

Q1: I was able to loosen nuts on the through-transom bolts pretty easily, however the bolts feel pretty tight. I'm not sure if they are typically sealed with 3m 5200, 4200, or marine silicone. Is there a recommended way to "break the seal" that will minimize risk to the transom? My plan is to lift up on the motor (to take weight off the bolts), use a breaker bar to force spin the bolt, and then carefully tap it out with a hammer. Should I just hammer it straight out instead? My concern is that if 5200 was used, twisting the bolt could rip up some of the wood inside the transom.

Q2: I was planning to re-seal with 4200. With the original bolts removed, I was going to gently clean the hole with a small wire brush and/or sandpaper, then re-apply the sealant/adhesive to the exterior surfaces (washers to hull). Any issues with this plan? Also, from what I have read, the sealer should not be applied to the inner walls of the transom hole. Is this correct?

Q3: There appears to be a bead of sealant (or possibly adhesive) around the motor bracket. It's possible that this was also applied under under the bracket, but I wont know until I remove it. When I am mounting the new motor, should I place a bead sealant between the mount and the hull, then clamp it in place with the bolts, or should I mount the motor first, then apply it externally.