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25-09-2017, 06:40
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fiji Airways/ Lake Ontario
Boat: Legend 37.5, 1968 Alcort Sunfish, Avon 310
Posts: 2,749
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Bought a....Sunfish
Yes, wanted a small boat to sail when conditions are just right so found a late 60s Sunfish in very good condition.
Wow. Talk about unforgiving. You screw up, this boat lets you know it. Weight a little off where it should be, boat won't perform. If sail shape isn't just right, it will barely move. And when the wind died I had to paddle it like a surfboard back to the dock.
What a humbling experience!
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25-09-2017, 06:48
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Boat: Leopard 39
Posts: 860
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
Yes, the acquisition of seamanship IS a humbling experience, as is all learning. The basics that you're learning with a Sunfish will serve you wherever you go, and in whatever sailing vessel you find yourself. Fair winds, and following seas.
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25-09-2017, 06:57
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Round Bay, Severn River
Boat: Formerly Pearson 28-1, now just a sailing dinghy
Posts: 1,332
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
Heh, did the same thing. Just finished refinishing an old sailing dinghy I picked up for little $s. Unfortunately, after spending two weeks and about 20 hours varnishing everything that could be varnished, I wore shorts with zippers on the back pocket for the maiden voyage and scratched up the seats!
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25-09-2017, 06:58
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Round Bay, Severn River
Boat: Formerly Pearson 28-1, now just a sailing dinghy
Posts: 1,332
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
I've also found it to be very unstable with 16' of mast up and no counterbalance. Like you said, even a small mistake ...
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25-09-2017, 07:04
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fiji Airways/ Lake Ontario
Boat: Legend 37.5, 1968 Alcort Sunfish, Avon 310
Posts: 2,749
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
Quote:
Originally Posted by danielamartindm
. The basics that you're learning with a Sunfish will serve you wherever you go, .
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That is, unless it's been a long time since I've been only on larger, heavier sailing vessels and haven't been on a dinghy in decades...experience does fade with time. Time to bring back some basic lessons...my big boat somehow doesn't care so much about balance and the 150% genoa is pretty forgiving except in heavy air. Even the R Class I race on is far more forgiving that this Sunfish!
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25-09-2017, 10:00
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Posts: 28
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
Stick with it, you'll sort it out soon enough.
What is your hull number? Ours 57182, which makes it a 1968.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tetepare
Yes, wanted a small boat to sail when conditions are just right so found a late 60s Sunfish in very good condition.
Wow. Talk about unforgiving. You screw up, this boat lets you know it. Weight a little off where it should be, boat won't perform. If sail shape isn't just right, it will barely move. And when the wind died I had to paddle it like a surfboard back to the dock.
What a humbling experience!
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26-09-2017, 05:44
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fiji Airways/ Lake Ontario
Boat: Legend 37.5, 1968 Alcort Sunfish, Avon 310
Posts: 2,749
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
Quote:
Originally Posted by SantaFeTrailer
Stick with it, you'll sort it out soon enough.
What is your hull number? Ours 57182, which makes it a 1968.
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I don't have the number with me, it starts with either 4 or 54, seller told me it's a late 1960s boat and it looks it- all bronze, no stainless, a hook for the sheet, no cleats, wood dagger board and rudder.
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26-09-2017, 06:03
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 374
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
I had a 1972. Exactly as you describe.
In my opinion a sunfish really only becomes fun when you get a good stiff breeze. And then it becomes really fun.
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02-10-2017, 09:54
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fiji Airways/ Lake Ontario
Boat: Legend 37.5, 1968 Alcort Sunfish, Avon 310
Posts: 2,749
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
Ran the SN, it's a 1967. Gosh, fifty years old! I bought a boat that's 50 years old! And with the original sail, to boot!
Light air this past weekend, so instead of big boat sailing my daughter and I went Sunfish sailing- and she had a blast being in total control.
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02-10-2017, 12:08
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA
Boat: Tayana Vancouver 42
Posts: 2,804
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
My fist boat was a Dolphin SR, 14ft lateen rig, much like a Sunfish. I really enjoyed that Boat and learned a great deal on her. My current boat is a lot more comfortable and versatile but that little sunfish type was at least as much fun per dollar spent.
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02-10-2017, 12:16
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Boat: 1976 Sabre 28-2
Posts: 7,505
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Re: Bought a....Sunfish
I built the SunFish's little brother from a kit when I was 12 and it taught me almost everything I needed to know about how to sail. Learned very early how to right it when capsized. This was back in the days of cotton sails and it had a permanent brown stain at the sail peak from getting it inverted and stuck in the mud of the lake bottom. Could sail it standing on edge for the fun of it with enough wind. Learned to get every bit of forward propulsion from meager winds to keep from paddling home. Sailed the hell out of that boat. Sounds like you are getting as much enjoyment out of the boat as I did.
__________________
Peter O.
'Ae'a, Pearson 35
'Ms American Pie', Sabre 28 Mark II
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