I pretty much feel that any wooden canoe, if it is in reasonable condition, is worth putting effort into. There is a magic about a wood canoe that makes being on the water a pure pleasure. A good "beater" canoe is nice to have. As you say, less worry than a Rushton! If you have kids, you can turn them loose, and now worry about it. I am sure that when you paddled your little canoe, your father probably hovered around when you were a kid!