Fairing rudder stuffing boxes...trim tabs

My rudder stuffing boxes (twin screw) are mounted to the underside of the hull. Not set up into the hull, like most i've seen. So there is drag and turbulance created by them. I doing some epoxy work, and am considering fairing (around) them. Will the epoxy (west) bond to the clean bronze.
Also, on fairing, the trim tabs were installed half assed, and the transom is rotting because of it. While replacing the transom, I was considering mounting a cleat where the trimtabs mount, and fairing it in. That way, when I remount my tabs, the screws go into the cleat and never compromise the transom. Does that make sense? Thanks

 

no takers?

Nobody has any input on this?