She lives a hard life. Low budget from the start, 20 years ago, I used Marine Fir plywood instead of the Sapelle plywood Joel White recommended(we were on a budget for a dinghy) for his popular Nutshell Prams.

She's hauled a family of four so many times between 2 boats, she's pleasantly worn out more oars and locks then I can recollect, and taken us on countless micro sailing adventures under her sail rig(and taught my whole family to sail). I wouldn't even guess the miles that she has covered in those 2 decades. And she's covered nearly all the miles we've sailed on the east coast, not on board, but following in our wake with no complaints(brings to mind Mitts dog...)

The only thing left of the bronze oval shoe I mounted on her keel 20 years ago, was a 6" piece on her bow. The rest of the 10 foot metal shoe, and the screw heads that held it, all scraped of on the country mile of granite ledge she's been dragged across. I resolved to put a new one on this year.

When I started taking some paint off, I was reminded of seasons gone by, most of them were varying white(s), but there was a gray season or two, a few sky blue seasons(mostly on the sole), even an all green one I recall, our first season with Eve. She was never garish, dressed in whatever can was on the shelf in the shop.

She lives outdoors year round. I don't even tarp her in the winter, just put her upside down on horses(the dogs appreciate the dry snowless spot below, and, well, you know what they do there).

So this spring, with all the rain, I took her in the garage and stripped the paint. I'd never get it all off so I stopped at about half plywood showing. I could also see the years of abuse left some deep gashes on the bottom so I troweled a thickened coat of West on the bottom and garboard planks.

She looked so much better with some care, so I fixed a few other dings, actually taped off the canvas fender to paint(her,...3rd,...4th..fender?), painted the present set of oars, and I rotated the oar locks(the wobbliest go to the forward station).

I fixed a few things we've found important over the years. Oars and locks have to be strong and well mounted(no compromise there). I reset some brackets that hold a little Danforth anchor under the forward thwart. I took the rust off and painted the little anchor, and bought a new "rode"(50' of 1/4 nylon). This has been important over the years to be sure eve is where we left her on the beach(another no compromise on the coast of Maine).

One more item that we've found is very important over the years. After the first season, I watched everybody on board fumble drinks. Kids with soda, us with glasses of wine we'd take on evening rows up creeks, cups of coffee I take at dawn when I love to take photos. Rowing takes both hands.

Originally I fit two of these swinging drink holders under the center and aft thwart. They were a hit! We only have one left(one holds what we need today), but the fabric mesh was rotted away. So I built a new basket out of copper screen. What do you think?