We recently found the Alcort trademarked the Catfish name and lettering back in late 1964, and the earliest advertising we have found is 1965. The interesting thing we found on our Catfish was the flip up rudder system, the design is very similar to the "new style" rudder that came out for the Sunfish in 1971. Other cool things on the Catfish are dual centerboards, a mast that feathers, masthead flotation built into the head of the sail.
We recently found the Alcort trademarked the Catfish name and lettering back in late 1964, and the earliest advertising we have found is 1965. The interesting thing we found on our Catfish was the flip up rudder system, the design is very similar to the "new style" rudder that came out for the Sunfish in 1971. Other cool things on the Catfish are dual centerboards, a mast that feathers, masthead flotation built into the head of the sail.
Interesting that what is now called "trailering" in 1965 was just called "trailing". Makes more sense because you are indeed just trailing something behind your car, and the "trailer" is just the thing that trails behind you. But somehow the noun 'trailer' took over, while the verb 'to trail' fell away, and had to be re-invented later as 'to trailer'.