Finally!!! A Minifish!

kayakka

New Member
hi all, so excited i just picked up a minifish this weekend!
thank you all for your patience when i was asking questions and advice months ago. you said if i waited and was patient one would show up. you were right!
only 30 minutes from me and the seller was so nice. boat is in good condition, almost new sail, fiberglass rudder and included the small dolly he made and even a homemade truck extender in case i want to car top it.
fit perfectly in the back of my explorer with a truck bed extender from harbor freight. luckily not a long drive so i could just leave my back hatch open.
anyway... here's some photos. can't wait to get it on the water next weekend. i'm sure i'll have questions once i take it for a spin.
 

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Nice! Looks to be in great shape too... good score! Extender or no, that might be a cop magnet... can you lower the seat back just ahead and slide the Mini a little farther into the vehicle? I only ask for your own sake, so you don't receive a "driving award" as an early Christmas present, LOL. And be sure to use a red or orange flag, rag, bandanna, whatever, at the far end of the boat, spars or extender, a cop might cut ya a little slack with that safety precaution in place. Otherwise, enjoy your Mini... mine sailed the length of the Salton Sea, but that's another story, LOL. :confused:
 
thank you! i'm very excited. i did put a bandanna on the end of the spars before i drove home to be legal, oops, and left it on in my assembled photo. i can't go any farther forward in my truck, with it in position in my photo the tail of the hull sat right on the extender, any farther forward and it wouldn't have reached. not ideal, going to try to modify the extender the seller gave me as it's a 1 1/4 size and don't need an adapter then (my hitch is 1 1/4), and it's quite a bit lighter (a lot) than the harbor freight 2 inch setup, and the homemade dolly is perfect for me to get it to the water!
 
The one time I drove with the rear hatch open, I got a strong dose of chemicals from the exhaust! :eek:
 
Congrats on your minifish. I transported a SF in the back of my 2004 Explorer as well and used a tailgate extender, but I put it in transom first with the bow outside and it seemed to balance better. That gives you the bow handle to attach your red flag. Enjoy your mini looks great.
 
Congrats on your minifish. I transported a SF in the back of my 2004 Explorer as well and used a tailgate extender, but I put it in transom first with the bow outside and it seemed to balance better. That gives you the bow handle to attach your red flag. Enjoy your mini looks great.
I didn't even think of loading it that way. I'll try it next time. Thanks!
 
No not yet. I thought once I take her out I might get a feel for a name. See how we both do on our maiden voyage. It's been quite a few years since I've sailed...
 
Bring a camera... but waterproof it for protection, LOL. Maybe even buy one of those disposable "waterproof 35mm sport cameras"---if they even make 'em anymore, I'm dating myself with that reference. Those disposable waterproof cameras came in colors back in the day, I remember the yellow "Sport" models. Used to hang one around my neck at times... on a "dummy cord!!!" LOL... the plastic cameras didn't weigh that much. Of course, the camera competed with a custom-made Costa Rican quart cooler cup for beer, the neoprene cooler cup with sewn (webbing) reinforcement tabs was on a lanyard or impromptu shoulder sling. Made for great photo ops for tourists when my Minifish was decked out as a pirate ship... as the crowded cattleboat steamed past, I'd hoist that brew in its purple cooler cup and take a hefty swig while flying by in the Mini, steering with my feet like a nautical chimpanzee, LOL. "ARRRRRRR!!!" :cool:
 
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Bring a camera... but waterproof it for protection, LOL. Maybe even buy one of those disposable "waterproof 35mm sport cameras"---if they even make 'em anymore, I'm dating myself with that reference. Those disposable waterproof cameras came in colors back in the day, I remember the yellow "Sport" models. Used to hang one around my neck at times... on a "dummy cord!!!" LOL... the plastic cameras didn't weigh that much. Of course, the camera competed with a custom-made Costa Rican quart cooler cup for beer, the neoprene cooler cup with sewn (webbing) reinforcement tabs was on a lanyard or impromptu shoulder sling. Made for great photo ops for tourists when my Minifish was decked out as a pirate ship... as the crowded cattleboat steamed past, I'd hoist that brew in its purple cooler cup and take a hefty swig while flying by in the Mini, steering with my feet like a nautical chimpanzee, LOL. "ARRRRRRR!!!" :cool:
i just happen to have a waterproof camera. no. 3. 1st lost in the sahara - then bought the same one again - opened up while snorkeling in french polynesia - no. 3 - same one again - have managed to have it now for over a year, goes kayaking and paddle boarding with me (guaranteed NOT to see anything if brought along).

hey i just realized i don't have a leash on the daggerboard (wooden - no hole or anything) - what do i rig for that?

also... i don't have a mainsheet snap to attached to the line on the stern. i guess i need some piece of hardware for that too right? any photos?
 
You can just attach the mainsheet to the bridle with a bowline knot. That's what I do and it works just fine.
 
You can just attach the mainsheet to the bridle with a bowline knot. That's what I do and it works just fine.
thank you - i like low tech - much easier, but it seemed most photos showed clips or hardware so i was afraid i was missing something. now all i have to do is practice my bowline knot!
 
thanks, i'll try without the snap hook first - i'd also like to replace the mainsheet line for something a little thicker (maybe prettier too) it's pretty thin now and think i'd like it a little grippier and more substantial.
 
Intensity Sails is a great low-cost supplier of parts, you'll be hard pressed to find better prices - other than maybe the "for sale" section of this website where you can find deals on used or new-ish parts.
 
Looks like you're getting enough info... I only mentioned the disposable cameras because some folks don't wanna risk losing or trashing their expensive phones or regular cameras, LOL. :confused:

I know there's a whole slew of "waterproof" cases & whatnot for cameras & phones nowadays, you'd probably know more about those than I do, now that I'm living in the high desert. :rolleyes:

Whenever I get around to taking sailing vacays in San Diego, I'll pick up a waterproof case for this little Canon cam of mine, it works well enough and I've already had it for four years, so I've gotten my use out of it, LOL. ;)

You can drill a hole high & up forward on that daggerboard, then run some shock cord around the mast as a "keeper"---which will also let you set the height of the board as you see fit, raising or lowering it as necessary. :D

Lemme see if I have a pic or two of that setup, before I go out and wash my car... I'm procrastinating a bit here, despite the awesome weather. I'm also having a cold beer to fortify myself for scrubbing the car, LOL. :eek:

Edit: Okay, I used shock cord around my mast for the Laser, the Minifish had a smaller loop of shock cord which went around the hook in the cockpit... scroll down in this link till you find Post #14, then check the pics till you see what I mean. You can still rig it the other way too, but this setup had the hole drilled aft on the daggerboard... sorry for the confusion, LOL. :(

The Three Amigos... Sage, Dixie & Wingnut!!!

Don't mind the waterproof bag lashed to the mast, that was a way for me to keep life jackets out of the cockpit... wind was howling earlier that day, so the bag is awry, LOL. But these pics will show ya the kind of amazing voyages you can have on YOUR Minifish!!! Never underrate a Mini... one day, long after I'm dead and the Salton Sea has vanished from the face of the planet, that Crudweiser pic will make me famous, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! :D

This other link shows part of the shock cord setup for the Laser, though the cord runs over the waterproof bag lashed to the mast with a "clusterf#% knot." LOL, you'll see what I mean soon enough, just scroll down till you see the first shot of Laser #2069, the red shock cord is visible and the part you can't see runs aft to a hole drilled high & up forward on the daggerboard, aye? ;)

forums.oausa.net/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=3072

I suppose one could use a Minifish for island voyages, but the Laser had more room and she's what I had at the time, the Mini came later in life, LOL. Just know that these small craft are tougher than most folks think, and they can take you on radical nautical adventures... IF you are willing to plan & prepare accordingly, and keep MARINE SAFETY as your top priority. Time to go wash the car... CHEERS!!! :cool:
 
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Never underrate a Mini... one day, long after I'm dead and the Salton Sea has vanished from the face of the planet, that Crudweiser pic will make me famous, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! :D

This other link shows part of the shock cord setup for the Laser, though the cord runs over the waterproof bag lashed to the mast with a "clusterf#% knot." LOL, you'll see what I mean soon enough, just scroll down till you see the first shot of Laser #2069, the red shock cord is visible and the part you can't see runs aft to a hole drilled high & up forward on the daggerboard, aye? ;)

forums.oausa.net/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=3072

I suppose one could use a Minifish for island voyages, but the Laser had more room and she's what I had at the time, the Mini came later in life, LOL. Just know that these small craft are tougher than most folks think, and they can take you on radical nautical adventures... IF you are willing to plan & prepare accordingly, and keep MARINE SAFETY as your top priority. Time to go wash the car... CHEERS!!! :cool:
There's hope for crossing Salton by Minifish again:
 
Meh, as far as the Salton goes, I'm just glad I sailed the length & breadth of that foul lake before it disappears... I must admit, one proposal to "flush" the lake using pipelines or canals from the Sea of Cortez sounded interesting, but I'm not sure Mexico would want all that funky polluted water draining into the Gulf of California. The inbound sea water would actually be less salty, but that outbound lake water would be loaded with nasty chemicals... :eek:

You can see from the photos in the article that the Salton has so much potential, and as a sailing venue it is hard to beat... the shot of the little girl's hair blowin' in the breeze illustrates this fact. It gets windy out there in the Imperial Valley, sometimes TOO windy with gusts of 100 m.p.h. in "wind events" (as they are known by locals & authorities). But if a solid recovery & improvement plan were put into effect, the place could be a magical resort destination, no lie. :rolleyes:

Native Americans back in the day had a huge natural reservoir in which to fish, hunt, etc. Sure, this modern version of the lake was formed in the early 1900s when the levees broke along the Colorado River, but natural forces (think geology & physical geography) diverted the Colorado River in ancient times and filled the Imperial Valley with what would now be considered clean fresh water. The Sea of Cortez may also have flooded the valley at times... :D

The wildlife must have been fantastic in those days, with all kinds of fish & birds present... no heavy agricultural runoff with all the funky chemicals it brings either, just natural drainage with a few desert salts and whatnot. A hand could swim in Ancient Lake Cahuilla... he wouldn't WANT to swim in the modern Salton Sea. Historical note: due to wholly natural forces & events, the modern Imperial Valley was entirely dried up during the time of the Spanish conquistadors & explorers... :(

Anyway, here are some recent pics taken in Redneck Land, where SOME freedoms still exist... that sunrise shot was taken this morning, the sky looked beautiful so I grabbed my camera and snapped the shot. Got a couple pics of Christmas decor at City Hall... I like the elves! They add a Tolkien-ish flavor to the compound, LOL. Look down to the right of the prickly pear in that cactus shot, and you'll see why Tiger kills so many birds in the yard... his camo works. :(

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I'M NOT SURE WHAT MINNIE & MICKEY MOUSE HAVE TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS, BUT MEH, THIS IS REDNECK LAND, SO I'LL JUST GO WITH IT. Y'ALL BE GOOD, I'M OFF TO BAG A CHRISTMAS TURKEY SOMETIME TODAY, WOOHOO!!! CHEERS!!! :cool:
 
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cactus cowboy. love your sunrise shot. there's nothing like a desert sunset and/or sunrise.
here's a sunset shot from my kayak.
 

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