Yep, I paid 500.00 for my prindle18.2 with trailer but have spent 2000.00 at this point includes trampoline. Still have those crummy 5.5 nacra sails that replaced the original prindle sails. I wish I would have paid 3000.00 for a pretty good cat in this range. I will have 3000.00 when finished.I will just have to get my fun out of it because I would never get my money back.
It is rare someone gets back what they put into a vessel
$1500 is a lot of cash for a hobie repair but the amount of work (hours + skill) that goes into a real pro job, and the materials are costly
I paid around $500 for a bottom job about 7 years ago - i was talking to the guy a few weeks ago - he said he wouldn't do it again for that little - wasn't worth the time and materials he had into it. I agreed with him
PS he closed his shop years ago, couldn't make make a profit doing cat repair / selling parts