I am considering buying a Sidewinder in a near-project condition. Being a newbie to both sailing and boat maintenance, this is probably a stupid idea. But, I don't think the boat is bad enough to really be a lot of trouble.
All it really needs is new covers for the holes in the bow, a few drain plug covers that are missing, replacing some hardened caulking in the corners of the cockpit and - this is where the big question comes in - tightening the metal brackets that hold the rudder. They are really loose, and I can't seem to find a way to access the inside of the hull where the screws holding them go.
I would really appreciate some advice, both specific to the Sidewinder and general boat repair/maintenance. Is there a standard way to re-attach loose fittings to a fiberglass hull? Is there a good source of info of this kind on the web? Is there a specific way to attach these fittings on a Sidewinder? When buying a mildly abused Sidewinder, are there specific common problem areas to check? The only thing I am aware of is missing centerboard because they tend to drown if you flip the boat, and this one does have the centerboard.
Thanks in advance for any info.