Can U help with purchasing decision :)

Blueridge

New Member
Hi all...

I am brand spanking new to both this forum and to sailing. I am hoping to pick up a used sunfish to goof around with and hopefully teach my two girls to sail (8 and 10 yrs old). I have been around sailers a lot but have only sailed a sunfish once for a weekend on a lake in northern NY. It was a blast and I am excited to give it a try.

On Craigslist there are a lot of options for sunfish and I am gathering information from the diferent sellers. However there is one Super-Sunfish, that at first blush, looks to be quite nice, is realtively close by, and comes with a trailer.

One worry is that the kids will not really get into it over the next few years....if that were the case I may want to sell the boat (assuming I am not addicted).

So here's the question. Does the fact that the super-sunfish is no longer produced make it more difficult to sell and will it be harder for me to unload? If there is the possibility that things don't work out will I have done myself a favor by purchasing a regular sunfish?

I hope I have explained myself well enough and I appreciate your willingness to look at this and help out.

Jay
 
Only way to know how much "YOU" like the is to try it out. If the sell will not let you try it out at least once before purchase, I'd look for something else. Anyway, where you really win with a Sunfish is that you can find a decent one for about $350 less trailer. That about as cheap as they come used ready to sail with the Butterfly being about the same price. If you want to sell it later, no big deal. As long as you buy at market value you'll break even selling. What is the market value of a Super Sunfish?
http://free-sailboat-listings.com

Really had to say, I would not pay any more than for a regular Sunfish in the same condition. New Sunfish sails are cheap, used Super Sunfish sails only come up used once in a while.

If you really like sailing, expect to own and sell a number of boats over the years. Starting small and your purchase mistakes will be small (er). You'll start looking at the price of new Sails/Hardware and get an idea of what the real hidden cost is. In my area there is a nice D-16 for sale, $240 plus trailer minus sails. If I had sails made it would cost about $1400 bringing the boat to $1640. Bingo! Market value achieved after purchase.
 
Thanks for your reply.

I suppose I am not too worried about how I will like the boat, but rather, if I opt to sell it after a couple of seasons, will I have a harder time with a supersunfish because it is no longer produced. Or is there a strong market for them just like the regular sunfish? I realize I may be asking a question that really has no good answer.

Most of the boats that I have been drawn to come with trailer and look decent from photo's/descriptions run in the 700 to 900 range. Granted I have not seen them in person or spoken to many about the boats yet. I would rather not get something that requires a bunch of elbow grease prior to getting it in the water and going.
 
I don't know if this will allay your concerns or complicate them. The Super is a bit more technical than the lateen rig. It has a following, but, of course not as broad as the lateen.

That said, you can add the lateen rig to a Super and have both boats in one. With patience a lateen rig (mast, spars, and sail) can usually be found for a couple of hundred. With both rigs, I'm thinking your resale appeal and the learning curve for your kids would both be improved.

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See the threads about drying out the inside of a Sunfish. You might be better looking for one with inspection ports installed. There is a big difference in how a 130 lbs Sunfish sails and a waterlogged 200 lbs Sunfish sails, not to mention trying to lift the hull out of the water. I've sailed both and the beginning sailor needs the dry Sunfish and a gentle breeze, the heavy Sunfish goes into Irons easy. That not to say a waterlogged Sunfish is not fun, just not as fun. Back-breaking actually trying to drag it up a hill.

Here's a thought, saw a Sailfish sail and booms for sail on Craigslist. Put it on a Sunfish and the smaller sail area may help beginners.

If you have a really narrow lake the Super Sunfish may be of advantage tacking. Personally, if I was going with a Marconi Rig I'd get the Butterfly but that's just me.
 
Here's a thought, saw a Sailfish sail and booms for sail on Craigslist. Put it on a Sunfish and the smaller sail area may help beginners.
I hate to say it, but unless the sail is off a wood hull 11' 7" Standard Sailfish all the other Sailfish models use the same 75 sq ft sail as the Sunfish.

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Where do you live that a good used boat advertised in Craigslist would still be for sale a couple of days later? I've had many experiences on Craigslist where I've been a day (or hour!) too late and the boat already sold! Here in Chicago a used Sunfish without a trailer goes for around $800 and sells very quickly. I've seen butterflys for around the same price.

Don't worry so much about resale value. Focus instead on getting a good used boat. Check everything over very carefully and make sure all the parts are there. Set the boat up and sail it if you can. I've looked at many boats missing the daggerboard or the rudder. Unless you are handy and can make a replacement yourself, steer clear because replacements can run you several hundred dollars. Replacement sails are also expensive.

When looking at used boats, be sure to flip the boat over and inspect the bottom for soft spots, cracks, etc. I can't tell you how many boats I looked at when looking for a boat for my daughter (age 11) that had some sort of hull damage. In each case, the seller told me, "It's an easy fix." Yeah right. Easy if you're a boat repair specialist! Easy and cheap are words that seldom go together when talking about boats!

In the end, I purchased a Minifish for $375 for my daughter. No trailer. The hull was good and the sail was decent. If my daughter gets a couple of good years out of it, it will be money well spent. It's was much cheaper to buy the Mini than let her sail my Capri and risk her damaging it!

Happy sailing!
 
$700 to $900 sounds like a pretty good price for an older boat in sailng condition. You don't want to pinch pennies and get a leaker or one where the sail is full of holes. You want something you can feel comfortable sending your daughter out on, not one with jury-rigged repairs, etc. As the previous writer said be sure to check everthing over carefully and wait if you need to til a good one comes on the market. BB
 
One more thought...in addition to checking the bottom of the boat, be sure to check the hull deck joint. If it is separating, don't buy the boat! Again, easy and cheap seldom go together when talking about boat repairs!
 
One more thought...in addition to checking the bottom of the boat, be sure to check the hull deck joint. If it is separating, don't buy the boat!
What's your method for checking the hull/deck joint when out shopping Sunfish?

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Oh, it wasn't a highly techical procedure, I can assure you! First, I visually inspected every inch of the joint. Then I ran my nail all around the deck joint to feel for a crack. Then, I took a playing card and tried to slip it through any crack I found.

I'm not a project girl, and I stayed away from any boat that needed work.
 
Oh, it wasn't a highly techical procedure, I can assure you! First, I visually inspected every inch of the joint. Then I ran my nail all around the deck joint to feel for a crack. Then, I took a playing card and tried to slip it through any crack I found.

Thanks
 
I want to thank all of you for your kind advice. Although I had noticed the different sail configuration and had read a little bit about it I had not really thought about how much more complicated that may seem to a 10 year old girl. The standard sunfish would likely be much less intimidating!

I live in Western North Carolina just outside of Asheville. I have several markets that are within 3 hrs....Atlanta, Greenville, the Piedmont of NC ect. We live just a few minutes away from a small (250 acre) lake that has no motorized trafic and often an afternoon breeze. I have only ever seen one other boat on the water and I would like that to change!

Maskry, the advice about resale value is well taken. It really does become a non issue pretty quicky!

I am gone next week on vacation with the family and when I return I will bite the bullet.

I just hope I can come up with a "clean" looking and out of the way storage set up to keep my wife happy!

Jay
 

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