Live,
Has the boat been on the northern east coast all its life? The reason I ask is because in my experience, one of the biggest factors on the timing of the liner failing has been the SUN, and heat. Boats from FL, TX, and LA seem to suffer the worst. I've seen boats that were always slipped with one side towards the sun in Dallas, and that side failed, and the other side was still OK.
So if it has been in the NE its whole life, you might still have some more time. Its important to note that the general consensus is that at some time, it will ALL FALL. Its just a matter of time, sadly.
Oh, and no need to fret about runners. If you use them, you would get used to them quickly. But as noted, for coastal cruising most people take them off, or leave them at the mast.