I bought Rail Rider in December '04. When I got her she needed all new rigging, a lot of scraping on the bottom (the guy who did it said there were big oysters on the keel), and new bottom paint. Luckily, my marina has 1 facility for a boat to be hauled out and worked on. Since I had to drop the mast to have it hauled, I re-rigged it at that time, as well as replaced the anchor light and rewired both the anchor light and the spreader light (for motorsailing at night). I did not replace the chainplates, even though I have obvious cracks throughout them and one crack on the side that actually is starting to tear off the chainplate. I've been sailing it in that condition, with a 2 year old main and a 30+ year old jib taken from a cal 20. Last week I picked up my brand new jib from Art Nelson Sailmakers, but I have banned myself from sailing until I replace the chainplates and get toggles for the turnbuckles (I've been using D-shackles to connect the turnbuckle to the chainplate). Since I have to remove the mast to replace the chainplates, I may go ahead and haul out to redo the bottom paint (I did it way too low at the bow, I get lots of growth there). I may then repaint all topsides, and maybe re-bed all the deck hardware (I see a bit of rust spots around all of them). The only place I probably need new fiberglass is the port cockpit locker, the paint has worn off there and the fiberglass bows when I step in. I also need to make a piece for my stern light to rest on, right now it's screwed directly into the aft of the cockpit sides, so it points off the port stern, and down, instead of straight aft. My engine (a 1987 model Johnson 2.5) probably needs a complete rebuild, or at least all new seals and a carburetor rebuild. I am thinking of just getting a different used motor. Once I get all of that finished, I could revarnish all the wood. Or I could clean up all the dirt and repaint the interior. Of course, I think my keel bolts desperately need replacing. I emailed jerry but haven't gotten a response yet, I'd like to get the 5/8" bolts he talks about. I also think I'd like to replace the masthead, the spreader brackets (and possibly the spreaders as well), install spreader boots (the cal 20 jib got ripped during a sail, every time I tacked the seam got caught on the spreader -- this was during a night sail in Kaneohe bay, a bay known on Oahu for its MANY MANY reefs to run aground on)...I want to replace all the bolts for the swim ladder, mount the engine bracket better (only 2 bolts hold it on), and install a stereo. I also need to get a VHF radio and GPS system. Also I need a solar panel or a wind generator. Plus, after seeing some of the pictures, I'd like to get a bimini top as well. In the future I may get roller furling for the jib. What is it they say about boats? B-O-A-T? Break out another thousand? Haha. I got this boat for $750. The new jib was $425. I don't think I want to put much more than about a grand more into it. Actually I can probably do all the above plus more with that amount. Then I should have one kick ass little sailboat. I work full time and am a full time student. This is why I 'Need' to do all these things instead of having actually done them already. Oh, as far as it's history... I have no idea. I may be able to ask the manager of my marina about it, he said his sister used to own my boat many years ago. I know that 2 years ago, one guy owned it, he replaced the main. Then he sold it to a kid who sailed it with some strands broken off the rigging. Then, luckily, that kid decided to sell it back to a real boater. If I find out any history about it from the marina manager, I'll let you all know. And if anyone has good advice for me in my daunting task, let me know! thanks, jeremy __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com