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These happen to be Velcro brand, but I guess and hook-and-loop fasteners will work. Adhesive backing holds the fasteners in place.
The transom is framed in port orford cedar, but, in contrast to the rest of the boat, is fastened with iron nails and bolts. It is possible the entire transom, or at the very least, parts of it, were rebuilt and/or refastened at some point in the boat's long life.
Damage was confined to a relatively small area right at the turn of the bilge at the transom on each side of the boat. Interestingly, the framing here was vulnerable due to exposed end grain (end grains wicks in water and rot spores, so it is avoided whenever possible).
It is possible the fasteners are wrought iron (which is no longer available), given the long striations in the metal, seen here. Nonetheless, the fasteners were in bad shape, and the framing was splintered and iron-sick.
RIPTIDE was built in 1927 by the Schertzer Brothers Boat and Machine Company, then located on the north end of Lake Union at the foot of Stone Way in Seattle. She is 47 feet long with a beam of just over 11 feet and a draft of approximately four feet, planked in port orford cedar riveted to white oak frames over a douglas fir backbone. She is powered by a 1967 Volvo MD-70A diesel engine and otherwise is essentially unmodified from the 1930's.
The first stage of her restoration began April 8th, 2015 when she was lifted out of the water at Port Townsend WA for hull and engine work by the Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-Op.