The buffs are... well just a buff to be honest.
They buffed something GP didn't REALLY need, but it helps you come back when you are behind.
GP struggles to get to his 2 items and lvl 13 fast enough. Games are ending faster and faster, often I find myself in the enemy or my base fighting with lvl 11. And to be quite frank teamfighting without lvl 13 is a pain in the arse.
And the thing about the barrels.... with 45% CDR and max E rank the CD isn't that much, you can start a fight with R into one-part combo and by the time you need another combo the next barrel should be here to do another one-part.
Raise Morale is something that remained from his old kit. I don't like it but I don't like the idea with the extra barrel for it neither (thematically). Because with the ult upgrades you are upgrading your ship... having an extra barrel isn't upgrading your ship ^^
Maybe put something like this in it's place
Better Crew!: CD of your ult is shorter
Explosive Ammo!: Your ult sets enemies on fire
At the end of the day we should be happy that we got ANY buff because I wasn't expecting GP to get buffed at all ^^
Let these land-lubbers walk the plank my friend!