Work to be done

1) Remove the failsafe footrest fittings and replace with a block of ethafoam (done).
2) Fix the leaks (there is water getting in to the cockpit area and in front of the front bulkhead). This will include refitting the deck elastics, since water is seeping in through the holes for these.
3) New keel strip.
4) Fit a foot pump. I am retaining the hand pump, however, since it can be operated by another paddler in the case of injury or by myself as a backup. I also intend to carry a stirrup pump as a further backup and in case I need to pump out a compartment other than the cockpit area.
5) Fit an extra bulkhead behind the seat. Several reasons for this: (a) to reduce the volume of the cockpit area to make the boat easier to empty in the case of an incident, (b) to create a new storage compartment, (c) to reinforce the back deck where I have to sit when getting in and out of the boat. Access to the new storage compartment will be through a hatch in the new bulkhead behind the seat. I'm going to make the hatch relatively large, so that I can get my stove and pans into the compartment. It will only be accessible when I am out of the boat. The inlet for the hand pump will come through the new bulkhead.
6) Properly fit the ethafoam footrest block. This may be done as part of (4). A new block will be cut to the exact shape (although the first attempt wasn't too bad) and fixed to the hull, deck and bulkhead with Sikaflex. As well as providing a comfortable footrest, this will serve to reinforce the bulkhead.
7) Modify the seat to make it more comfortable for long trips.
8) Re-do the kneetube with some diolen mat and glue some old karrimat over it.
9) Patch and polish the gelcoat.
10) Apply new stickers (kindly supplied by P&H).

Lots of work to do. My estimated budget is £250. So far, I've used £10 worth of ethafoam, a cutting blade for my rotary tool (25p) and a small amount of blood and skin (free). Let's see over the next few months how good a guess that budget is. The work is probably going to take me a year to complete - mostly because I'd rather be out paddling the boat than repairing it!