I have captured numerous smaller ships in attempts to get capitals yet no matter what I do I can not repair them. They do not show in lists even if I see them visually right outside my ship before docking etc nor what zone I am in. I know at one point I saw a menu option to send capital ships to go repair but so far no other ships I have allow this.

Help? (people out here are dying needlessly.)

At the ship yard, go to the small ship dealer, select modify a ship, then repair.