If there was ever a mess about boat it is the Sailfish, perfect for light winds and ghosting. Great core workout, it is easier to lean back and tack vs leaning forward. You can also put a short beach chair on it and kayak, that would make a good picnic platform and with its weight it makes a very stable SUP. I can actually paddle one of these, vs falling off of the lightweight SUPs.
View attachment 35750
We wrote an article about the Alcort Sailfish for Small Boats Magazine. It is a comprehensive look at the Super Sailfish with information on the smaller Standard Sailfish and same size fiberglass Super Sailfish MKII.
Where will your boat be homeported, and are you keeping the name?
Great article!If there was ever a mess about boat it is the Sailfish, perfect for light winds and ghosting. Great core workout, it is easier to lean back and tack vs leaning forward. You can also put a short beach chair on it and kayak, that would make a good picnic platform and with its weight it makes a very stable SUP. I can actually paddle one of these, vs falling off of the lightweight SUPs.
View attachment 35750
We wrote an article about the Alcort Sailfish for Small Boats Magazine. It is a comprehensive look at the Super Sailfish with information on the smaller Standard Sailfish and same size fiberglass Super Sailfish MKII.
Where will your boat be homeported, and are you keeping the name?
still is at the horse track in august, about 1/2 hour away is lake george.Wow, I've heard wonderful things about that area, weekend destination for the city folk back when?
Kit parts for the smaller Standard Sailfish, but the part names are the same.
View attachment 35725
View attachment 35726
No real port except my house / garage. Where I live there are many small lakes and a few large ones that I can access. I think I am going to go with the oriiginal name and call it Flotsam. I also have a minifish. I'm near Saratoga Springs NY
Also means that your finish will have to be durable. Any nicks or wear-thru will let water soak in while sailing, so high chance for rot. I have heard insects enjoy sailing, so you could provide them a fun escape from their mundane lives!Depends on where you store your boat. Hard Maple: Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable to perishable, and susceptible to insect attack.
Everybody tries different things. Wouldn't surprise me to hear someone cut some handrails out of PVC or UMHW. They'd last forever and the material is easy to work with. If you have maple, try some maple, just don't store the boat upside down with the rails in the dirt. As Beldar said, a couple of good coats of varnish, or paint, or epoxy. Standard wood care.
I used Lowe's #1 select pine for the inner stem in our Penobsot 14 ST. JACQUES, 3 pieces laminated with Titebond III. Oooh you should have heard the howls on the WoodenBoat Forum! Gave it 2 coats of epoxy and then paint over the top of that. She's holding up just fine after 6 years. Most boats do, they don't die when properly stored and maintained, they die from neglect.
Here's Skipper and Capn Jack giving the Seal of Approval.
View attachment 35956
ST. JACQUES to the left, covered and covered.
View attachment 35957
Chuck has got the bug! I understand that “Just couldn’t pass it up” feeling!
Sounds like a deal! Check to be sure trailer has a VIN and ideally some registration history. Not sure about NY, but CT DMV makes it near impossible to register a trailer without these.
P.S I say use the hard maple, since you have it and you want to make your own. Coat everything in epoxy, then varnish/poly (epoxy alone not UV protected).
Or- careful- find another Sailfish for $50-$100 and use the parts!
Just remembered that Kirbys has awesome paint as well, and George answers the phone! BOOMER has International Orange and Maynard Bray Off White on the deck, Rustoleum Gloss White Spray on the midships bottom.
George Kirby Jr. Paint Company
View attachment 35966
On the Javelin check that the centerboard moves freely, the shroud and forestay tangs are in good shape and that the mast step looks right, no cracks bulges etc...And check the WWYY (WeekYear) manufacture date on the side of those trailer tires, 6 years is max even if they look new.
Trailer Tire Tips https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/trailer-tires/
She needs to have good sails, the boat gets expensive fast otherwise.
View attachment 35959
Those Folbots were cool, transformers in disguise. We had a Klepper sail rig for a bit, it was a good size and we sold it to a gent in Tennessee who was thrilled to find it. Got it free in when we picked a Windflite.
If you go the epoxy route most brands sell a Special Clear Hardener, that will let the beauty of the wood shine through. We coated ZIP with West System 105 resin with 207 Special Clear Hardener, planned to then varnish also but it looked great with just the Special Clear. Since she stays inside or under cover I wasn't worried about UV protection. My Ship Carpenter buddy Keith recommended that application, he uses it a lot on yacht interior finishes.
View attachment 35960
He is also a big fan of Rustoleum Marine Topside Enamel on wood, you might look to see if your local Lowes sells it as they might have the color you want. We used TotalBoat Wet Edge on our Super Sailfish ZSA ZSA and other wooden Sunfish CHIP. On the Standard Sailfish WINNIE we used Valspar Ultra enamel, the same product we used on BARBASHELA's restoration. We pick our paint based on the color we want, form Interlux Brightside, Pettit EZPoxy, Rustoleum Marine, TotalBoat or Valspar.
Rustoleum Marine Topside Oyster White
View attachment 35965
TotalBoat WetEdge. The blue is Interlux Brightside.
View attachment 35961
View attachment 35963
Valspar Whipped Apricot, Swiss Coffee and Mark Twain House Brown.
View attachment 35964
Thanks for sharing your small boat adventures.
Check that forestay tang