Sunfish ID help

November 1972 start of transom id. Somewhere in 1972 probably
one of the first to get the aluminum rudder bracket.
 
Author has list of
unsolved questions, would be nice if he's still around and we could
answer some of them. I have a deck fairlead on a 1980, anyone
with a earlier date?
All three of my 70's Sunfish have deck fairleads. The most recent is a '77.

Now I have to sort them out! :confused:

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There is no serial number on the right side of my latest Sunfish. Maybe someone knows the year of this professionally-molded number—which I have enhanced:
PB290014-001.JPG
 
Rear cubby was 1971 and new style rudder 1972. This left only one year with cubby and old style rudder. Author has list of
unsolved questions, would be nice if he's still around and we could answer some of them. I have a deck fairlead on a 1980, anyone with a earlier date?
:cool: In less than a week, using my "boilerplate" Craigslist language, just picked up a beautiful Sunfish from that era: Cubby, block on deck, no HIN, bronze rudder head and fittings. NH state sticker from year 1999! :) 'Still waiting to hear if my Florida Sunfish blew away before I part with it. :oops:

Actually, the seller had a different CL ad in—and was verbally told of my other CL ad "Wanted-Sunfish". Even with as little cash as I offered, I may have actually paid more than he was asking! :rolleyes:

I'd put another Craigslist "wanted" ad in, but after loading it by myself, would have to remove this latest Sunfish from my truck. :(

Those bronze parts are heavy! :confused: Are they worth selling, in order to update the rudder and gudgeon? I'd guess not...but I'm here to ask anyway. :)

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Here's what Craig2727 wrote previously:
  • It has a rear storage compartment.
    • There is no serial number stamped on the transom.
  • New style rudder with gudgeon bracket.
  • It appears to have the "Shadow" style daggerboard.
  • Blue and red stripes fore and aft.
  • Sail is red, white and blue - probably original.
  • Splash guard is screwed, not riveted.
  • There is a white plastic plate on the deck just behind the splash guard. Nothing on it.
  • There is a rough edge where the cockpit meets the bottom of the deck.
  • Halyard feeds though a small pulley, not the black fairlead.
  • Bridle wire has a loop in it.
I've highlighted where my newest Sunfish differs, but Craig2727 doesn't mention the metal of which his gudgeon is made. :confused:

(My daggerboard has the standard rounded tip, and the rudder "head" is bronze).

Even the "Sunfish Evolution" .pdf—supplied by Webfoot1—is incomplete in this area. Was 1968-1970 a period of transition or a mixture of inventoried parts—piled high-and-deep? :rolleyes:

The hull is secured for transport on my pickup truck and would be difficult to move, but where would I look for the "new for 1969" AMF identifications?

Is my "new" Sunfish a 1970?
 
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Having a 1969 since new, and being at the dealership Hance and Smythe in Manahawkin, N.J. for the purchase, the only distinguishing factor between 1968 and 1969 was the label inside the cockpit, the side labels and the AMF added to the serial number plate. The labels hadn't been changed much, just the red AMF triangle added. The red has faded over the years. The rudder head just has the white plastic grommet, not the full bronze piece.

My feeling is that for 1969 they just put AMF on the boat and made no other changes. (I don't recall any surprise at the double green diagonal stripes on the foredeck of my white hulled boat, so that might have been something that was already available by 1968.)
 
Having a 1969 since new, and being at the dealership Hance and Smythe in Manahawkin, N.J. for the purchase, the only distinguishing factor between 1968 and 1969 was the label inside the cockpit, the side labels and the AMF added to the serial number plate. The labels hadn't been changed much, just the red AMF triangle added. The red has faded over the years. The rudder head just has the white plastic grommet, not the full bronze piece. My feeling is that for 1969 they just put AMF on the boat and made no other changes. (I don't recall any surprise at the double green diagonal stripes on the foredeck of my white hulled boat, so that might have been something that was already available by 1968.)

Full bronze piece? :confused:

Fullscreen capture 9182017 81117 PM.bmp.jpg


Something tells me the photo was taken from the wrong side of the truck. :rolleyes:

But OK. The side labels have the AMF triangle, and the rudder head is bronze. But the wood tiller has two aluminum extensions to the bronze rudder head. Is this the "transition rudder"?

If I'm following this correctly, would this Sunfish be a '69 or a '70?
 
The bronze top you could buy as a add on to try to stop the rudder splitting. Your rudder could be as new as 71. The aluminum extension started in 72.
 
If you take it apart and find a split in the mahogany, the bronze head was probably bought for repair. Anyway I concur with Sailflow.

I'd be interested to see a photo of the label inside the cockpit. That did change over the AMF years and it might be possible to come up with a timeline of when those changes happened.
 
The computer's in the shop until tomorrow. In the meantime, it's a 2x5" rectangle. The photo's not so good, and the label can't be read until later, when I can "unload" it off the truck.
 
Hey, member Old Paint, sorry for the angle, but it's the best I could get in a tight space.

This is a photo of the label on the cockpit's forward bulkhead. Does this help in getting the exact year of manufacture?

I had a chance to check the bottom of the hull. Not only is the gelcoat really shiny, but it's as straight as when it left the factory! (Near perfect). A testament to the year of manufacture, and almost 50 years of quality fiberglass stability and durability. :cool:

This Sunfish is not for me, but if I were a racer, I'd sell the old rudder, put a "new style" rudder on this one, and go racing! :)
 

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Well, this site gets about 60 views daily, so your picture will help me and others permanently archive what years Sunfish has produced before serial numbers were required.

Thanks for the prompt—and early—reply. :)
 
Your label looks opaque. Is that correct?


Heres the 1969 version:

image.jpeg
Its printed on clear plastic. The red AMF logo has faded. As you can see, the label is directly below the vent hole. My sunfish was purchased in late spring or early summer of 1969.


Now we need an example of a 1968 or earlier label.
 
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:cool: In less than a week, using my "boilerplate" Craigslist language, just picked up a beautiful Sunfish from that era: Cubby, block on deck, no HIN, bronze rudder head and fittings. NH state sticker from year 1999! :) 'Still waiting to hear if my Florida Sunfish blew away before I part with it. :oops:

Actually, the seller had a different CL ad in—and was verbally told of my other CL ad "Wanted-Sunfish". Even with as little cash as I offered, I may have actually paid more than he was asking! :rolleyes:

I'd put another Craigslist "wanted" ad in, but after loading it by myself, would have to remove this latest Sunfish from my truck. :(

Those bronze parts are heavy! :confused: Are they worth selling, in order to update the rudder and gudgeon? I'd guess not...but I'm here to ask anyway. :)
Well, even sight-unseen, my prospective buyer has backed out. Does someone want this complete beauty with a fiberglassed Barrington board, used for racing, but the board needs work? It's available for $550 in SE Massachusetts on its way South—via Scranton, I-81, I-77, Columbia, Savannah, Orlando, route.

When I get to Hurricane Irma's Sunfish-deprived Florida, the market will decide the price.
 
I've got some pix, but can't add them until I get some computer help. Send a phone number, and see if I can text them to you.
 
Presently on the Interstate, and be in Scranton in a few hours. Frackville, PA, is my destination.

I've sighted an actual defect in the meantime. A poprive
 
Leave Frackville as soon as possible, I had the worst two days of my life there.
Our car had the gas tank punctured by a bad road. Where was no taxi cabs listed in the phone book, even though there were at least nine taxidermist. When I asked the locals why it was so quiet there, they said it was because half of the county was on fire and people often fall through the ground into the fiery pit of actual hell-fire.
I swear this is a true story.
 
OK, I've left--and understand. Eastern PA has seemed like Appalachia for years, with no improvement in sight. Depressing!

Oh well, I'm supporting it with stopovers. My usual stop was Tamaqua, which might have been even worse. That Mom & Pop motel has closed, not surprisingly. The highway is, at least, back-up free.

More defects found on the boat. It's picked up some insects on the leading edge.

OK, coffeed-up, time to roll. :)
 
Oh man don't let Alan near it, he is a pirate. Chain it down before he gets near. And BB is right, it is a 1972 based on the stripes. Probably won't find a serial number, most likely there used to be a foil sticker that came off.

Nice looking boat, can't wait to see it on the water.

Cheers
Kent and Audrey
 
My Florida Sunfish is undamaged from the hurricane, which is kind of amazing. It was stored upside-down, and the contour of lawn and hull seem to have kept it "grounded".

So this new-to-me (1972?) Sunfish is for sale. Actually, either Sunfish could go. A new gudgeon can be installed on this newest (old) Sunfish. The bronze bolt is contained within a plastic tube.

Does the old wood rudder need to be modified to fit the newer spring-loaded rudder cheeks? Is this a worthwhile conversion?
 
Probably won't find a serial number, most likely there used to be a foil sticker that came off. Cheers Kent and Audrey
Nothing remains on the label inside the cockpit; however, the foil sticker has stuck.

It's S/N 87911. :cool:

A 1972 fer sure?
 

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Beldar is correct it. Does it have the compartment in the cockpit?
It has the older rudder mount which changed in 72.
 
When I asked the locals why it was so quiet there, they said it was because half of the county was on fire and people often fall through the ground into the fiery pit of actual hell-fire. I swear this is a true story.

slide_17.jpg

Cubby and bronze rudder parts...check...

Finally able to check the serial number, and it's a 1971. :cool: Changes made.
Thanks, everybody, for the help. :)
 
#87911 is a 1971. Might have new rudder. Might have storage compartment.

• Storage compartment added to rear of footwell
• Sail window option added (288 sq in)
 

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