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I bought my 1977 13' Whaler a few years ago now and still love it as much as the first time I had it out. Mine has seen better days but is still very serviceable. Over the last few years, I've put a newer and much more reliable outboard on the stern and made some safety upgrades along the way. Even if I were to do something stupid and smash the boat somehow, I'm not out much.

There's a long list of improvements I could make to ol' Naval Lint (that what I call her) as time and budget allow but like yours, mine has had some imperfect work done over the years. If you aren't in the restoration camp, don't be afraid to try some stuff and learn some skills on and off the water. There isn't anything you could do that will remove fun from the equation. The worst thing that can happen is that you will gain some pride in your boat!

Have fun and stay safe,
Phosphoreum