I will not type too much for this, for it is a rather simple request.
When you repair with a hammer out in the open seas, you should get a small UI of the ships hp. This could just be the exact same hp UI you get when you are at the wheel. It is incredibly annoying to try and angle your camera to look up and constantly look past the sails to figure out how much hp is left.
This will also very likely help immensely in the dark seas, since more rough weather would mean having to make more patches for the boat.
Thank you for your time.