I am a 52-year old soccer mom who had been anticipating an empty-nest with my husband this summer, after our youngest graduated from high school in May. Instead, we found ourselves at home with three college-aged men who were kicked off campus because of Covid-19. “The smart place to ride out this craziness will be Mom’s house at the lake!” Sadly, we lost my mom last summer, and “staying at the lake” also means cleaning out her house, and all the dust, sorting and sentimental stuff that comes along with that. Also, this is not a big house and my college-aged men average a height of exactly 6’-2”. Recently, a windy day, after a hefty arm workout of a kayak ride, I mentioned what a perfect day it would be for a Sunfish. 40 years ago, my mom taught me to sail on a Sailfish in Lake Michigan. It was actually a Japanese sailfish clone with a mahogany deck and a red and white sail. My Dad bought it in Japan when he was in the Navy (late 1950’s) and his Captain allowed him to bring it home aboard ship (!?). I’m not going to lie, sailing on Lake Michigan can be scary. And eventually, we “upgraded” to a waterlogged Sunfish, also with red and white sail. On a perfect day, there would be small whitecaps, and the wind would be coming in so that you could sail perpendicular to the shore. Every time we would crest (crash) a wave, while heeling, Mom would yell “Whoo-HOO”! (Mom was born in 1939, but she did not follow the path of the 1950’s housewife). When I declared a Sunfish was the move, my husband figured it was another one of my cockamamie schemes (I am known for my cockamamie schemes). But when I told him I wanted to teach MY kids to sail, it tugged at his heart, and when I used the analogy: “It’s like when you wanted to teach the kids to golf…”, I had him onboard. That pun was intended.
We scoured Craigslist. We watched a dozen boats sell. We had a budget, and we had a plan. Then we watched the supply dry up. There was not a
Sunfish to be had at any price. And no, I am not going to buy a Hobie Cat! Until we searched out of area and found her: a 1971, serial number by the splashguard, old style rudder, cubby in the cockpit, red deck, and a red and white sail, with a window. What’s with this window? – has to be a gimmick.
My oldest, biggest son and I masked-up and drove three hours to get this boat, from a gentleman looking to find it a good home. Bingo. She’s not in perfect shape - someone patched her underneath. But it was someone who knew what they were doing. And she is NOT waterlogged.
I taught my sons to rig it. I have not rigged a boat in 30 years, but you do not forget this. My son watched YouTube videos on wind angles, and now he is teaching me. And that WINDOW! How does anyone sail without a WINDOW?!
And so I am sharing with this Sunfish forum, because you seem like a group who would appreciate a good story during Covid. (Don’t forget to check on your yeast bread rising). I will reach out when I decide to cut a hole in this beautiful red deck to install an inspection port and a gudgeon plate. OHHHH, what must my Dad have done with that waterlogged boats’ rudder?
For now, we will sail her as-is. And she needs a clean-up. I’d love to shine up this deck without waxing myself into the water. Toilet bowl cleaner for the hull? Is that really a good idea? Anyone know how to un-stick this deck drain screw?
We are on an inland lake now. The flags are starting to flutter, so I will get out there. Stay safe.
.
We scoured Craigslist. We watched a dozen boats sell. We had a budget, and we had a plan. Then we watched the supply dry up. There was not a
Sunfish to be had at any price. And no, I am not going to buy a Hobie Cat! Until we searched out of area and found her: a 1971, serial number by the splashguard, old style rudder, cubby in the cockpit, red deck, and a red and white sail, with a window. What’s with this window? – has to be a gimmick.
My oldest, biggest son and I masked-up and drove three hours to get this boat, from a gentleman looking to find it a good home. Bingo. She’s not in perfect shape - someone patched her underneath. But it was someone who knew what they were doing. And she is NOT waterlogged.
I taught my sons to rig it. I have not rigged a boat in 30 years, but you do not forget this. My son watched YouTube videos on wind angles, and now he is teaching me. And that WINDOW! How does anyone sail without a WINDOW?!
And so I am sharing with this Sunfish forum, because you seem like a group who would appreciate a good story during Covid. (Don’t forget to check on your yeast bread rising). I will reach out when I decide to cut a hole in this beautiful red deck to install an inspection port and a gudgeon plate. OHHHH, what must my Dad have done with that waterlogged boats’ rudder?
For now, we will sail her as-is. And she needs a clean-up. I’d love to shine up this deck without waxing myself into the water. Toilet bowl cleaner for the hull? Is that really a good idea? Anyone know how to un-stick this deck drain screw?
We are on an inland lake now. The flags are starting to flutter, so I will get out there. Stay safe.
.