Hi,
About 25 years or so ago, I bought a Dumas U.S.C.G. powered lifeboat, 1/16 scale of a 44 footer at an artsy-craftsy store for $25. It was partially done, so I had a wonderful winter project, working toward spring to have it seaworthy. The only thing unusual I did was change the running lights to incandescant grain of wheat bulbs, instead of the cast metal things that came with the kit.  There were  not many other changes from the original kit that year.  After about 6 years of sailing occasionally, I put it away and all but forgot it.  Then in the year 2000, when recovering from colon cancer, I hauled it out and began to rework it. All running lights became LED's, as well as spot lights. The life rings became floatable, instead of castings, fenders added, speed control was updated to a home built electronic version, all lights controlled from shore, crew added, boatswain's seat made to swivel, horn added, radar antenna rotates, hatch to forward quarters added, workable winch (later disconnected from electric circuit), added scale fire extinguisher and first aid kit, mast remade using tubing and last, all was repainted.
 
Now that I have winter coming on, I'd like to find something in a used cabin cruiser or Chris Craft type boat to revamp, in the same 1/16 scale as the lifeboat.  I'm building a 1/16 scale working lighthouse diorama now, but want some boat work to occupy my mind.
 Lynn Leaich