ProperShip
In the January/February issue (No. 309), Matthew Murphy calls out the theme of reviving neglected boats. In the same issue, Greg Rössel poses the question: “Do you really want to fix it?” I suspect that for most of us who ask ourselves this question, the answer is almost always yes. The challenge is finding the best way forward for a particular vessel and circumstances. Smaller boats in disrepair offer an opportunity to discover, learn, and invent.
johngsandusky
In addition to the question of whether or not to fix it is the question of how much work to put into it. A couple of years back I bought a bunch of boat parts including a rough kit-built Folbot Super—a wood framed, vinyl-skinned kayak. It appeared to have been reskinned, and it leaked. These boats are common and have little value, and I had no qualms about patching it with Gorilla Tape. That worked; I paddled and sailed it for a season before breaking it up because it was too heavy for me. I considered reskinning it again using modern skin-on-frame materials, but the cost and effort would have outweighed the value of the finished product. Sometimes quick-and-dirty is the best option.