My two cents....
The best advice you've been given so far is to empty the mast and make sure it's sealed....do that before worrying about appearances. Search these forums for details.
It sounds like you don't even know yet if this is the boat for you, so spend as little cash on upgrades as possible. Forget the low-profile main blocks if the Seaways are functional. If the main sheet is old/stiff/fuzzy, replace with something economic like Sta-Set (7/16"). Downhaul purchase should be a nonissue at this point.
The 57mm triple sounds like part of a 6:1 mainsheet system. If you don't have the rest, sell it. The fiddle block is likely a spare for the jib halyard (a pic would help)?
Buy Invitation For Sailing by Alan Brown for your step-daughter's Christmas stocking. Nothing to do with cats, but some winter reading will get her started on the terminology, basics, etc.
Don't go out in anything above 8-10 MPH for a while, and you won't have to worry about pitchpoling!
Good luck....hope all goes well for you!
_________________ Jerome Vaughan Hobie 16
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