good luck fellow eagle scout!View attachment 43068
You know, I actually read your article before deciding to buy the boat, it was very helpful.
I went ahead and cut the daggerboard 40 inches by 9.25 out of some extra 3/4 inch birch plywood I had from my Eagle Scout Project. I figure I can round it off with a bandsaw and then file down the angles with a wood file. Then I can stain it a bit and put on enough polyurethane to sink a ship. (Might have jinxed myself . It won’t be completely precise, but It sure beats buying one. I will probably either buy The rudder or the mechanism. And if all else fails I can live with a $60 paddle board!
Are you clairvoyant?? I was going to mention that!I think Beldar was going to mention that the Sailfish are good with the shorter board, as their hull is not as deep as the Sunfish...
Is the aluminum trim missing? Or maybe just dirty so I can’t see it. Also, is the halyard cleat there? Is rudder hardware correct? Looks a little funky from your first pic, but hard to tell. The inspection ports will make repairs easier, but you’ll probably have to replace them if you don’t have the covers. Costs will add up... but the sail is worth more than the $60 invested if it’s in good shape. Does it have the Sailfish logo?
Yes, same size sail. I bought ‘Ripstop kite paraglider sail repair’ on ebay for $1.25. (Shipping was about $3, but still a deal, I thought). Patch both sides of the sail, round the corners a bit.Would you recommend shorter than 40?
Cleat is definitely missing, and the sail is in good condition with one 2 inch tear. It’s got a sunfish logo, but from what I understand it’s the same size.
It’s actually in okay condition. It will be a lot of work, but I got time.That boat is rough. Being glass it can be fixed but there will be a lot of cost and time. I would look for a new hull with parts. Just for the sail and booms you are ahead on your investment.
You fiberglass Super Sailfish MKII uses the smaller vertical hinge plate, about 4 inches long, the same size plate that is used on the wooden Sailfish and wooden Sunfish. One difference is that the carriage bolt is external to the transom, and the horizontal hinge plate on the deck does not have the dog ear screw holes, those holes are found under the spring plate.
Here's some homework, learn the nomenclature for the Rudder Releasing Mechanism parts.
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It’s 3/4, but I bought some 40 grit sandpaper so it shouldn’t be for long.Is not the daggerboard trunk 3/4" wide?
If so, a 3/4" board with numerous layers of "whatever" painted on it, might make for a super snug fit.
Someone added a new style sunfish rudder fitting to your sailfishView attachment 43137
Mine seems to be even simpler, mabye after market. It’s 4-4.25 inches.
If it takes too long, I've got about 30-feet of 24-grit sandpaper...It’s 3/4, but I bought some 40 grit sandpaper so it shouldn’t be for long.
Hey everyone, it’s been a while. Tomorrow is her maiden voyage. I bought a rudder for $50 on eBay, just the wood part, and rigged up a makeshift mechanism. The daggerboard is finished, I stuck with the untreated plywood, with simple stain and some waterproofing primer, and it’s been submerged for about 12 hours in the pool with no deformation or expansion. I got a cleat and bullseye installed, and changed out the rigging. I patched the sail with sail tape, and pressure washed it and the boat. I’ve yet to make the wooden rails, but that’s coming soon. I’ll post some pictures tomorrow. Any last minute advice or superstitions before the maiden voyage ? I got a little bottle of champagne for the hull!View attachment 43058
Hey everyone,
My name’s Finn, I’m new to sailing and the forum. I’ve been fascinated with sailing since a trip to SeaBase with my scout troop two years ago. I recently saw a Facebook Marketplace post for a sailfish in my area, it was an older widow selling her husband's neglected boat, so I bought it for $60. It’s got a brand new sail, but is missing the rudder and daggerboard, as well as various cleats and lines and such. I figured it’d be a good project for Christmas break and spring. I’ve got a couple of questions for anyone familiar with Sailfishes.
As it’s the MK-II, it’s the 14 foot model, and has the same sail size as the Sunfish. Is the tiller and the daggerboard the same? I was hoping to build them myself, and I think I have some good draw ups, but does anyone out there have advice on how to do this, or if I should just buy the parts?
The paint on the hull and deck is old, as it has sat under a porch for 10 years. I’ve read that you need to be extra careful while sanding down fiberglass and paint. Do I need to sand the paint completely down before repainting, or do I just need to sand down the chipped areas? I’m hoping to not have to spend 6 hours with a little electric sander, but I can if I have to.
Also, can anyone tell me what’s up with the two holes on the deck? I’ve never seen them in pictures of sailfishes. The screw caps are missing, so I can’t plug them. It looks like someone stuffed some foam and styrofoam down there. Should I try and plug these, or does anyone know where I can find caps that are waterproof and will fit? It could be nice to have a bit of internal storage.
Sorry for the storm of questions, but I’m excited to get on the water. Here in Middle GA we don’t have many places to sail, but I’m considering Lake Sinclair/ Lake Juliette. Any advice is appreciated as well. I’ve looked for a hull ID number, but I can’t find one. Can anyone tell from this picture, or can tell me where to find it?
Thanks for your help,
Finn