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  1. Kevin Mc

    Trailer questions

    I built a cradle for my hull to replace the bunks that came with the trailer. Each rib in the cradle is fit to the cross-section of the hull, with a pool "noodle" over it and carpet wrapped around that. You can see the gap down the middle for the chine to rest in.
  2. Kevin Mc

    Transporting Sunfish mast

    I roll the sail on itself, then slide the spars/sail/mast into a spar bag (bungees are spaced down the length to keep it from fluttering while going down the road). The cradle in the pic supports the front, the rear rests on a boat cushion placed just aft of the cockpit. The cradle is made of...
  3. Kevin Mc

    War breaks out in Texas

    So that's what a poop deck looks like...
  4. Kevin Mc

    I put my fish up for the winter :-(

    Houston, TX @ 7:00 this morning
  5. Kevin Mc

    Storage

    Good idea! I've wanted to find a way to put a stretchy cargo net across the rear compartment so that stuff doesn't wander out.
  6. Kevin Mc

    Daggerboard aerodynamic advice

    I always assumed the chatter is due to a non-symmetrical shape (or asymmetrical drag, or too much play between the board and the slot). Pulling the board up shortens the amount in the water so there's less of the board exposed to whichever's causing it , plus the shorter length is less likely...
  7. Kevin Mc

    Shoes

    Do a search on 'water shoes'. These are available all over (Academy, Wal-mart, etc.).
  8. Kevin Mc

    what's lowest water temp you'll sail in?

    I'm a wimp (and have no dry suit) - I wait for about 75 degrees F or higher.
  9. Kevin Mc

    Ronstan battlestick install question

    You could notch the upper side of the tiller's end to accommodate the extension's mount. You may want to widen the end by gluing on some pieces of wood to match the width of the universal mount.
  10. Kevin Mc

    Newbie – tried sailing for the first time, and it was great!

    That is a beautiful boat.
  11. Kevin Mc

    Wind kept me in on Monday.

    Since I almost always go out with a friend for crew, I won't head for the water unless it's a minimum of 15 mph, and anything up to mid-20's is just fine. Past that it gets a little too sporty and I worry about the equipment holding together. If you have a slippery tiller handle then wrap...
  12. Kevin Mc

    Mast questions

    Good idea to carry zip ties. And kudos to making such a repair "at sea"!
  13. Kevin Mc

    Mast / Deck cleat repair

    Assuming the height of the lower spar is maintained constant, varying the length of the mast moves the entire sail forward for a longer mast and aft for a shorter one. I doubt a one foot difference makes much, if any difference, but I'm curious as to how the sailing qualities would change if...
  14. Kevin Mc

    Almost died today

    +1 on always wearing a PFD. A technique taught by the space shuttle crew trainers to the astronauts in the event they parachuted into water and the chute covered them was to "climb" or "crawl" out from under the chute. The same technique should work with a sail; i.e., facing up, act like...
  15. Kevin Mc

    Sunfish never rigged for Main Block

    Yep - loop the mainsheet under the hook and hang on. It won't take long before you're vowing to get a block or cleat before heading out again... ;)
  16. Kevin Mc

    Sunfish never rigged for Main Block

    That hook mounted at the front lip of the cockpit was all the stock Sunfish came with (maybe still the case).
  17. Kevin Mc

    Dagger board protection

    Some are making an assumption that the water is clear enough to see an approaching hazard which is not always the case. Where I sail I'm lucky to be able to see a more than a few inches below the surface.
  18. Kevin Mc

    Tail Wheel

    I'd be afraid to put that much of a shear load on the gudgeon. In the picture it appear slightly bent at the bottom and there are spider cracks in the gel coat near the top to either side, but those are maybe not related. Then again, maybe I'm extra gun-shy since I almost had the...
  19. Kevin Mc

    Sunfish Hull Repair Help

    That looks familiar! I had a very similar crack on the hull I bought used a few years ago - see the attached photo. I cut out the bad area, removing as little as possible, and beveled the edge around the hole. I used a little spray foam to provide some support behind the patch. If the...
  20. Kevin Mc

    Varnish or epoxy or....

    I applied a few coats of spar varnish followed by periodic waxing. A weak point in the wooden rudder are the holes through which the pivot bolt and spring pin pass - water can get access to the end grain and soak in. Make sure the sides of the holes get a good coating of whatever you use.

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