Need Help Identifying Handgrips On Old Style Boat

signal charlie

signal charlie

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Howdy
We have a pre 72 Sunfish with aluminum handgrips pressed on around the aluminum trim. They are on solid, was this a factory mod or did someone add this later? Data plate is gone so I don't have serial number.

Thanks
Kent
 

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Interesting. You do have a pre-1972 Sunfish with a new style rudder retrofit. I have never seen handgrips like these. I am guessing that somebody with some machine ship skills made and installed them as shown in the photos. I am about
95% sure that the builder never offered these hand grips as an option.

I worry a little that these grips are installed on the hull/deck joint and trying to lift the boat with these grips alone might damage this joint.

Alan Glos
 
Hi Alan

The pictures don't show it but it wraps underneath pretty far. Good point about the potential for damage, we'll let the folks know who buy it.

We got the hull with all the hardware stripped off of it, including rudder hardware, so we just went ahead and converted it. Another coat of paint and a new Newport sail, and she'll be ready for her new home.

Here are before and after pictures of "Buttercup" and a link to facebook page that shows rudder conversion: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunfish-Sailboats/129769927103126

Thanks for the info!!

kb
 

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99% sure that Alan is correct....

In other words, these handgrips are a (wholly unnecessary) custom add-on.
 
I don't believe they're an add on. There's another person who had a Sunfish type boat with the exact same handles next to the rudder. There's a picture on this forum or on the yahoo Sunfish group with the same setup although I haven't been able to find it.
 
They were an add on. Remember seeing them for sale somewhere many years ago. Have never seen them installed before. Not a very popular product!
 
signal charlie said:
Howdy
We have a pre 72 Sunfish with aluminum handgrips pressed on around the aluminum trim. They are on solid, was this a factory mod or did someone add this later? Data plate is gone so I don't have serial number.

Thanks
Kent
Click to expand...
Aha! I saw a pair today, exactly like this on an early 1960s Alcort 'fish.
 
Kent,
I noticed in your Facebook photo album that you have a aluminum (not plastic) new style rudder cheek that is black. Is it just painted? or some other type of coating? and how does it hold up? I've been thinking about painting mine black as I like the look much better but have reservations because if it scratches up easily it will look like crap in no time.

Sorry for the off topic question but that was the first time Ive seen one of the old aluminum rudder cheeks black so I had to ask.

-Eric
 
Alcort59224 said:
Kent,
I noticed in your Facebook photo album that you have a aluminum (not plastic) new style rudder cheek that is black. Is it just painted? or some other type of coating? and how does it hold up? I've been thinking about painting mine black as I like the look much better but have reservations because if it scratches up easily it will look like crap in no time.

Sorry for the off topic question but that was the first time Ive seen one of the old aluminum rudder cheeks black so I had to ask.

-Eric
Click to expand...
Hi Eric

I painted it with rustoleum, it held up great in the garage all winter :) I wire brushed it first to remove crud and the paint seems to be sticking well. I like the clean look and figured the rustoleum would help protect it over time.
 
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