Harvey, I used a square of plywood which I had slathered with multiple coats of marine varnish for the ladder backing. I replaced the stock motor mount with one of stainless steel. There is a backing board (about 1/2 inch thick) already glassed into the mold which was used to back the stock mount. It was large enough to serve the steel mount. The stern is only about 1/4 or 3/8 thick fiberglass. I was 175 #, 6'2" and 50 years old when I squeezed in there. Having a reliable helper on the outside was a necessity. When I need to do this again I think I will: 1. drill the necessary holes into the stern 2. fasten the plywood to the end of a pole (via a small iron dowel screw (screw at each end) inserted into the end of the pole with just enough of the screw end protruding to grip the plywood) 3. align and hold the plywood from the inside over the holes 4. drill through the previously drilled holes into the plywood from the outside 5. remove the plywood and fit teenuts into position in each hole 6. reposition the plywood (again on the pole) using a dowel through from the outside to align with the holes in the plywood Remove one aligning dowel at a time, goop the hole with sealent from the outside, then insert the bolt finger tight After inserting all the bolts finger tight, cinch them down. Sure sounds easier than the way I did it - but words are easy Good luck and let us know how you end up doing it. Stan