I had my Sunfish up to 85 MPH on the roof of my 1966 Ford Country Squire. Then the water pump blew and that was the end of that. But the Sunfish was very stable at that speed.
When I learned to sail you were taught to sheet with your teeth. I’ll never change - it’s the best way to add a “3rd hand.” However, I now have a full set of dentures. While I usually use poly grip, I’d I know I’ll be sailing I use the g-flex West epoxy - so far my choppers have never come...
Can’t say I care for being called “crusty”. How about Senior Master or just plain ol’ Old???
By the way, being really old has its perks - I just landed a new sponsor for my Sunfish. You’ll see a big decal on my sail at the next Masters Championship.
Back in the early 60s, our club had a few Sailfish that were partly crushed when a big oak fell on them. I was in charge of getting rid of them. There was no such thing as a sawzall back then, so I tried the club’s chainsaw, but bits of fiberglass got everywhere while I cut the first boat to...
Zip ties are a clever approach but you can certainly do it without them. It just takes some perseverance! It’s a lot like popping your own hip joints into place after hiking on a windy day.
The seller has made it clear that he will only take full price - NO offers! can’t believe this fine specimen hasn’t sold! Note I am being sarcastic
https://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/boa/d/beach-haven-old-sunfish-sailboat/7175615036.html
I remember going out with my friends who I sailed with collecting candle stubs from the neighbors to wax my wooden Comet. Mrs Bradley who lived down in the hollow made her own candles and mixed cow fat into the wax. Her candles were absolutely the best for boatspeed.
The young ‘uns today...
I’ve been racing Sunfish since before they were invented. I’ve got a fairly current model now with the rolled edges and hiking strap, but I’ve longed to go “old school” and have an old metal-edge boat with bronze fittings and a Depersia bailer. I’m on a fixed income so can’t afford to buy a...
You youngsters are a bunch of lightweights! Back in my day, boats were wood. When they got too hot in the sun, they caught fire! I lost my first wood Sailfish to a sun-induced fire, and the sun burned the stern off my second wood Sunfish. I rebuilt her and named her “Don’t Burn My Stern”...
If you are really concerned about not being able to stay put, do what I do - I’m old and barely able to stay onboard myself, so I’ve installed both port and starboard seatbelts I salvaged out of my LeBaron convertible.
Well, at my age I don't know about much anymore either, but your comment caused what gray matter I have left to sputter to life. Back in 1972 or so, Alcort, who made the boats back then, started selling replacement blades for the old style rudder that had the new shape. A number of them have...
I've been racing Sunfish since they were made of wood, and have sailed in numerous North American championships even in this decade despite my advanced years. I can assure you that class legal racing does not require the O ring to be used. For reasons I cannot figure out, perhaps as my brain...
Hi, sounds like fun. However, it is a long way for some of us older sailors to drive. Have you thought about holding the Michigan Open in a location where it is easier to get to? Upstate NY would be a more central location, accessible to Michigan, NY and New England sailors.
Back in the late '60s and early '70s when Sunfish were at the height of popularity, there was a kid selling hot Sunfish out of a garage on the bad side of Darien, CT. He always had a heavy with him, and I am pretty sure the heavy packed heat. The Sunfish black market was pretty intense in CT...
I am hoping to get my knees and hips replaced in time to come to the NAs. Last time I was in Texas LBJ was still alive. Anway, what dates will the senior championship be? I need to get someone to cover my shift calling bingo at the retirement home and need to know which days the senior...
When I was growing up and learning to sail we had to pull Comets by hand uphill in the blazing sun 3 miles to an unpaved launch ramp. When we were done we had to pull them by hand uphill three miles home!
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