Recent content by Kristie E

It is definitely sitting above the wood, I wouldn’t say “well above”. The CF actually had a slimmer profile than the fiberglass biax fabric I also could’ve used. Drag on a windy day is welcome, ineffective is not. I’ll keep that in mind.

Hi all, I thought I’d report on the results of my cracked rudder project. I had some carbon fiber strips and leftover epoxy (I ended up using my slow-cure version from Total Boat). After sanding the old finish off and a little extra around the cheek with 60 grit (I was hoping to make room for...

Thanks Beldar. I wondered if that was a factory dowel. I’ve been chewing on this, and Joe C’s offer for a new blade. Here’s what I’ve decided. This should make you all laugh. I’m going to slap a bandaid on this blade and see if I get a couple seasons out of it. Alan Glos’ idea of reinforcing...

That is super exciting! We have a saying at my house: “beware the $75 Sunfish”. (I’m probably $400 in). But watching my family sail my two boats is worth it. Have fun fixing them up.

Thanks everybody! I’m going to sleep on it. I’ve dealt with fiberglass but all my supplies are at the lake. I could thixo the crack, but then if it fails, I’ve spent a lot of time and money varnishing. Those replica blades are tempting at $140! Race-legal is not in my future, but I guess my kids...

I’m looking to refinish/repair this rudder (and my daggerboard while I’m at it). I have a new tiller and extension ready to go. I’ve read so much about this here-thanks to everyone. I’m hoping someone will have thoughts on the following: -the blade was cracked all the way down. It has been...

In fact, I performed this exact modification today, using this photo and related info for guidance. Fabulous. I bought all the components at West Marine (somewhat cheaper online, but wanted to get on the water while the kids are in town). I used stainless steel screws and vinyl locking nuts. A...

I love this example, and I sometimes remind myself that in a worst case scenario on my skinny lake, I could always swim to shore. Which I’m sure, will never happen!! As far as doing your best work, I’m just today facing a situation where I’ve realized my best work is still fair-to-middling...

Thank you all so much. I’ve been out there trying to remove it-no can do, and I’ll be darned if it’ll keep me from getting this thing in the water. The ball is missing, you’re right. I’m super glad to know I can sail without it. I would’ve guessed not. So I cleaned it up underneath and I’ll...

Hi all, I’m nearing the end of my fiberglass patching (ugly but floats?) and want to go out on the lake. This bailer had sand underneath and I removed as much as I could find, then tightened up to this. I had tried to remove it completely, but I gave up when that seemed wrong. It doesn’t look...

Congratulations on your new boat! I learned how to sail a sunfish on Lake Michigan in Leland as a kid. My mom taught me, but honestly, we both winged it, mostly. Fast forward 30 years and I’m back at it after buying a sunfish during Covid for my grown boys. I taught my son what I knew, and he...

Good call! I was thinking fallen tree. That’s much more plausible. good Good call! I was thinking downed tree. But noob with a trailer? I AM a noob with a trailer! I will beware. I’ve attached photos. She’s really quite perfect, but for the holes. I’ve sanded out the bad glass on the worst...

Thats exactly my plan and it’s taken me a day or two to muster my gumption to cut a hole in the boat. But the damage is just too severe to patch it from the one side, methinks. And it’s right where the boat “sits” on land, which I’m sure, is why the crack is there to begin with. If I’m going to...

I arrived up north for the summer, ready to sail the ‘71 fish I bought last year. And at some point, I plan to convert the rudder. While my husband was trolling Facebook marketplace he found a beautiful but damaged ‘78 for $75, including the trailer. She has three crosswise cracks in the...