On Monday, November 20, 2017 at 3:14:41 PM UTC-5, wrote:
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Any glass ship bought for 10K or so and insured as such will be insured such that it will easily reach the point of not being economically repairable while having relatively minor damage. This threshold is about 70%, sometimes less, of insured value.

That's just a characteristic of owning an inexpensive glider, the insurance is not to blame. If it does get "totalled" but you want to fix it anyway (perhaps work over time on it, contributing labor under a mechanic's supervision), you can buy the wreck from the insurance. E.g., insured value $10K, and "totaled", the insurance pays you the $10K and takes away the carcass.. Alternatively, if they think the carcass is worth $2K, they pay you $10K-$2K=$8K. Or they might offer to pay you $7K if that's the estimated cost of fixing it. Either way you get to keep it.

Of course, if it's worth more than you bought it for, then insure it for what it's worth (to you). You'll then pay a higher premium, but will get a bigger payment if it's totaled.

The trailer may be a large part of the "worth" if the glider is cheap.