Do Sunfish T-Shirts Exist?

Captain_Capsize

New Member
Do Sunfish T-Shirts Exist? I love to have one...! I did some searches, but the best I could come up with is some with real looking fish on them...
 
I know back when the builder was SLI they had shirts, tops, etc.

you could try:

The Sailboat Garage
4204 South Shore
Waterford, MI 48328
248-673-3565
248-673-2750 (Fax)
Peg & Terry Beadle

Peg & Terry have been class active for years and if it's for a Fish they'd know where to find it.
 
I called and spoke to Peg, She told me that they haven't been made in years..! She said I could get one at a regatta.
The other response from Vsports is as follows:

Unfortunately VSport is no longer the licensee of
Vanguard Sailboats. Our agreement has ended and so we
are unable to fill your order.

Please contact Vanguard Sailboats 401 683 0960 for further
assistance.

Your order will be cancelled.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

VSport Customer Service


The search continues.....! I looked on the vanguard website, but they dont show any shirts.

you'd think after 50 years of making the Sunfish, there'd be lots of them out there!!
 
You know, you could print out a picture of a sunfish or logo and then use one of those iron-on things to put it on a blank shirt.

It's really easy and pretty darn cheap.
 
I thought about that, and also thought about making some to sell! I don't want to break any copyright laws though. I'll find one....I even looked on the famous auction site.
 
While the count of fish manufactured runs to about 300,000 notice that the class has less than 2000 members. Not a whole lot of interest or advertising money to hit that small a target demagraphic. Like I said SLI made the shirts, shorts, towels, etc back in the early 90's for a couple of years, and in the 60's and again in the 70's there were a couple of attempts to market Sunfish gear, But I assume since none of them lasted for more than a year or two there wasn't any profit in it.

FYI: way back when there was even a guy who who make up shirts and shorts from used Sunfish sails. Saw a couple of sets made from recreational colered sails, but that petered out as well.
 
I'm not sure the class membership is a reflection of the number of Sunfish sailors (in fact, I am sure it is not). At my club, we have more than three dozen Sunfish sailors, yet only one that I can think of is a member of the class. They love Sunfish and are proud of the fact that they race the boats, but most use club-owned boats and don't see a benefit to joining the class. This is not a slam on the class (I have been a member on and off), but rather a reflection of the fact that there might be a large audience for Sunfish stuff that extends well beyond the class numbers.
 
Many years ago I bought two t-shirts via the mail with a red Sunfish on them which were from "Sungear Regatta 1992." Don't know from where I ordered them. Maybe Sungear is still around.

Fred
 
The problem is how do you get to the folks that want fish gear? About the only "list" of folks with fish's is the class listing.
National sailing magazine ads cost more than a startup small niche sailing business can afford and most fish owners don't read most sailing magazines.
Like I said there have been quite a few attempts over the years for fish gear, but geting the word out to folks that would buy it (where to advertise/cost of advertising)was frustrating.
Even supplying dealers with free advertising didn't seem to work. Not many fish owners return to sailing dealers on any regular basis.
 
Perhaps the sunfish forum is the best way to mass market to the class and beyond.... Bradley could probably set up something that a vendor(s) could post pictures of the gear and then order through the email????? Maybe a stickied thread in the for sale section?

I would love to have some more cool sunfish stuff for me and my family. I have looked a bit on the net and have found little. Although regatta shirts are cool, if you didn't actually go, you could be labeled as a poser!!:eek: And kids sizes are usually not available at regattas.

Perhaps I should look into having a screenprinting done for shirts and sweaters....I could sell them on a pre-ordered batch basis. Not looking to make money, just cover basic costs. What say y'all?
 
I'm in. I am almost done restoring my 1970's Sunfish. Being 15 years old, it's a great project and it's coming along really nicely. I have been looking for t-shirt that has the sunfish logo on it, and even something along the lines of a dinghy shirt with the logo on it..... Just an idea.
 
Ok, I'm gonna put up a poll that will see how much interest there is in shirts. You can respont with a vote to the poll and we'll see if it is even worthwhile. Look for the poll:D
 
Tim, I'd contact the Class Office AND Vanguard before you go commercial. There are a lot of copyright/royalty issues.
 
Been through this as we have an embroidery company and have made " Sunfish" items from time to time. We did the shirts for the Sunfish Midwinters in Melbourne.

The Sunfish image and the word Sunfish are Registered trademarks of Vanguard. You cannot make up and sell shirts with either on them without permission from Vanguard. If you do, you are subject to a fine of $50,000 and forfeture of any equipment used in producing the items.

My understanding of this from a conversation with Chip Johns last fall follows:
The Sunfish Class Association has the right to use the Sunfish image and name in conjunction with sanctioned regattas or events like the Masters, Midwinters or regionals. The sponsoring fleet may order event apparel and include the "fish" and the word Sunfish in whatever they put on them. Any person or organization making/providing the apparel with the "fish" or the word "Sunfish" can only sell it to the Sunfish Class Association (a fleet in this case) and may not sell anything directly to individuals without violating the trademark rights.

John Fox ~ Teamfoxy
 
Foxy is right on. I actually talked to Chip about selling laser and sunfish gear a few years ago and he pretty much said no (in a nice way). Vanguard licenses that out to someone else. He didn't name the company that is licensed to sell the apparel. Of course, if Vanguard ever changes its mind or would like to do something like Tim suggested I am up for it.
 
The problem appears to be that Vanguard does not currently have a licensed vendor, or at least not one that is prepared to produce/sell anything yet. The last vendor can no longer sell their Sunfish logo goods, so are we out of luck until Vanguard makes a deal with a new vendor?
 
If anyone wants advise on how to print designs on shirts, well in addition to teaching woodshop I've also taught, and still do, how to print T shirts. I've also investigated epoxy inks for printing on sailcloth.
 
That vendor doesn't appear to be licensed by Vanguard or a Vanguard dealer so purchase at your own risk.
 
I have not purchased any shirts from Zazzle, but have purchased maps, books, and reproductions of historical documents. The quality has been excellent as well as the customer service.
 
Follow up here - I ordered one of the t shirts.

Bottom line is save your money! The t shirt itself is of fair quality, but the iron on is poor. I ordered the exact shirt shown, and the blue is purple-ish. I expect the iron on to come off after a few washings.
 

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