Sunfish in water

Bidston73

New Member
My daughter found a sunfish... its a bargain in her opinion of$100. According to the owner it's been sitting in lake water for the last 10 years. He used it to kayak so there's no mast, daggerboard or rudder. She thinks she can refinish it. She does have some experience in sailing and minimal maintenance.
Of course I know I'll be helping her. Is it realistic to think the hull would still be ok after 10 years in the water?
I've attached pictures. I'm concerned about the interior of the hull including the foam, what can I look for?
Thanks for any opinions.
 

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I’d pass. I’ve never seen a Sunfish float that low. It’s full of water. Plus, buying all the parts piecemeal always costs more than buying a complete boat. A complete, decent boat of that vintage is probability $500-700. She’ll spend a lot more than that accumulating parts and still have to fix one of the worst leakers I’ve seen.
 
My daughter found a sunfish... its a bargain in her opinion of$100. According to the owner it's been sitting in lake water for the last 10 years. He used it to kayak so there's no mast, daggerboard or rudder. She thinks she can refinish it. She does have some experience in sailing and minimal maintenance.
Of course I know I'll be helping her. Is it realistic to think the hull would still be ok after 10 years in the water?
I've attached pictures. I'm concerned about the interior of the hull including the foam, what can I look for?
Thanks for any opinions.
:oops: Mast, spars, sail, daggerboard, rigging + a pricey old-style rudder are going to run about another $450—used. A likely drying-out requirement = another $25 in inspection ports and 3 or 4 months using one or two $10 muffin (pancake) fans running 24/7.

Helpful would be to know its weight. Can two people lift it off the ground? Is this a warm-water lake? The aluminum trim may have corroded, producing sharp edges underneath and should be replaced. (A job NOT for the faint of heart!) :confused:

All this can be solved by buying a second Sunfish—"complete". ;)
.
 
Thank you both for your replies. She's 12 but has been sailing in Galveston Bay for a year. She absolutely loves it and wants her own boat.
We're going to pass but start looking for a good used one.
I appreciate the advice from both of you.
On a side note, if anyone else is feeling adventurous he has it listed on craigslist Houston.
 
Mine was about in that shape when got it (free)...but it had all the parts. The daggerboard was swollen and it took some pounding to remove it...not to mention it weight about 200 lbs. After a winter and a cleaning, it's just fine. If you can get it free...it'd be a fun kayak boat, but as suggested...free would have to be the price. Mine actually looks very similar. I ended up sanding off all the staining and then buffed it out.
 

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I agree with the "pass" decision. It is a pre-1972 hull with virtually no hardware, and sitting in water for a decade, and looking at the first photo, is probably weights 250 lbs. or thereabouts. If somebody gave me this hull for free, I would probably salvage the coaming and whatever hardware is still attached (it does have a DePersia bailer and the screw in bailer is worth about $40) and then take the waterlogged hull to the local landfill for proper internment.

She ain't the only 'fish in the sea - keep looking.

Alan Glos
 
I looked at the Craigslist ad for this. Talk about false advertising- it says “no leaks” and “can’t tip over.” Right.....
 
Now you get to hear the Skipper's take. She says she'd have been thrilled at 12 to have a boat like that, knowing that a project with all the parts would follow. Paddle it around a bit, jump on and off of it. Round up some spars. Money appears for a new sail.. Instead she didn't get her first Sunfish until 22 years later.

Be advised we like project boats :) If she is heavy you might have to split a seam and replace some of the two part foam, we have done that many times.

Here's one of our projects, 1968 ALcort Sunfish MERCI, after a trip through the carwash.


She scrubbed up real nice.

Merci after.jpg


The good thing about a hull like that is you have a blank canvas. You will not be worried about doing something wrong during a restoration. That's how we approached the job with MERCI.

Merci bow foam.jpg


IMG_1427.jpg


You can paint her any color you want!

IMG_4439.jpg


And then head out for a Mess About.

Merci stern.JPG


Whatever you decide, holler. We have parts, so does Alan, Craig...
 
I could see taking that on as a project to work on boat repair skills. But to actually PAY money for it? You'd be doing the guy a favor to take it off his hands.
 
That's true in the past, but nowadays you could consider that as a SUP with 500 lb capacity. Vey stable. And we have kayaked around a bit in them with no concern of tipping over.

We double paddled MERCI for her Hull Integrity test, a very nice afternoon.

IMG_2123.jpg


And yes, a "Free Hull" is like a "Free Kitten." Down in the South it takes $800-1100 to get a Sunfish back out to its natural habitat, with a beautiful new sail and all Sunfish parts. Up in Chiilyville the freshwater parts are cheaper and in better shape.
 
After power washing and drying out you'll have a decent hull. The price
is exactly what it's worth so you could buy it, clean it up and store it
while looking for another Sunfish. If you can find a Sunfish with good
hardware but a crappy hull you may come out ahead. If not you could
sell it and get your money back. At least this is how I do various projects,
I'll accumulate parts on the assumption that I'll find a deal that's missing
parts. Not the most efficient method but it's pretty cool when it all comes
together.
 

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