Recent content by Alan Stewart

Thanks! That Does bring back memories of coming across 1 or 2 of these back in the ‘80’s on Cape Cod... I appreciate the info!

Trying to figure out exactly what this is: HIN # AMF25631M75B, all-white hull w/rolled deck edge like 1988-1992 Sunfish, no graphics, 13’9” LOA, metal DePersia bailer, molded-in splashrail (like Minifish), molded-in cockpit w/out storage compartment, Teak grab rails (same as on a Sailfish), on...

Ok, good work! That little book “Sailing Made Simple”, is not the American Sailing Association’s instruction manual though - “Sailing Made Easy” is much more comprehensive and user-friendly in my opinion, but if you’ve already picked up the other that’s fine too - I think I may have read that...

Hey, that’s a clever idea to use a piece of old cockpit sole as a stamp to imprint the pattern on soft epoxy... I have an old beat-up hull I might sacrifice and I’ll be sure to save a couple pieces here and there as a result of suggestions from this forum - thanks!

I’ve repaired many booms over the years (close to 40 now!), and if you’re concerned with aesthetics, you’ll want to make the repair on the inside, where it’s hidden, so that means an “internal splice” using an 12”-18” length of closet pole (adds weight), or even better, 1-1/4” schedule 40 pvc...

Trailex Sunfish trailers are lovely, but stupidly expensive for what they consist of (and I’ve known the guys at Trailex for more than 20 years!). Academy Sports sells a very nice little galvanized trailer for $599. that has a welded aluminum angle frame for the bunks (nice). It needs nothing...

In my 50+ years of messing around with boats, cruising, teaching, running charters, etc., I can honestly say that for $20 (or less “used”), ASA’s instruction manual on basic sailing is undoubtedly the best introductory tool for both novice sailors and even those who want to “brush-up” on their...

In the event that the wooden backing block has rotted or dropped away inside the hull, you should go up a size or two with your SS mounting screws and ALSO bed your fairlead or oval block plate (which has more surface area and a lower-friction assist in hoisting the sail!), with 3M 5200...

If one half of the bronze gooseneck screw is stuck in the threaded portion of the gooseneck, simply drill it out and use a 1/4” SS bolt and locknut instead - 1-1/2” or 1-1/4” should do it. Marine Tex is great for many small hull repairs as the white blends nicely with white gelcoat (you can also...

Unless you are racing, a far better place to install a drain plug is in the transom on either side of the gudgeon plate. You can buy a screw-in drain plug with a metal or plastic flange like comes standard on all Lasers. In my opinion the original metal drainplug on all pre-1990(?) Sunfish is...

That should be "Bondo", not "bindi"!

Much better than bindi would be some white Marine Tex or Formula 27, either will do a very good job of coming close to matching the hull color. Cover the smoothed patch with some wax paper and carefully smooth again with a plastic spreader/scraper - you'll end up with a shiny patch that blends...