I want to race using this hull as long as a racing centerboard will fit. It will hurt like hell to hike this boat with that coaming, but I will give it a try. Do we have to tell them we want to put it to use?I just got off the phone with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, who has the oldest Sunfish ever sold (their words). They are going to consider lending us that boat as a centerpiece if we can make this come together. This boat was mentioned in other threads
I want to watch the Class Measurer tech-inspect this one.I want to race using this hull as long as a racing centerboard will fit.
No way they are going to let us sail her, but that's some boat!
Where did you get that vinyl wood grain material???? Who needs gel coat?
I notice the polished brass bailer cap.
I've puzzled over the early serial numbering logic since nothing fits the progressive serialization list commonly found, until you get a couple of years into the fiberglass generation. This is the only wood hull I've seen that even had a numbered tag..., I wonder if it's actually off a fiberglass hull. All the wood hull tags I've encountered looked like this...Somebody enjoyed boatbuilding if I read the serial number correctly - 31277 ?
According to the brochures I have, Alcort shop built wood boats were phased out when the fiberglass boats were introduced, Sailfish - 1959, Sunfish - 1960. The kits continued to be available until AMF bought Alcort in 1969.Factory wood production had long since ceased at that point, but I guess the wood kits were still available into the later 1960's.
Rick,I recently purchased a '60's fish that looks in excellent shape from the photos. . .
This one's got two diagonal foredeck racing stripes, one black and one blue, on a white deck. . . .deck pully, old rudder assembly, no aft cockpit, pre-AMF (still has original ALCORT label on the hull).
Interesting, thanks... I'll add that to the "not widely publicized -or- short lived" hulls, stripes, and sails collection.Actually, I think he may be right. I remember those SCUD pictures from a year ago - there were a couple of late '60's boats in my area that had this similar type of "non-matching" dual color stripes - as shown below. If I remember correctly, the deck/hull colors of such boats were light tan, not a regular Sunfish white.
Actually, I think he may be right. I remember those SCUD pictures from a year ago ago - there were a couple of late '60's boats in my area that had this similar type of "non-matching" dual color stripes - as shown below. If I remember correctly, the deck/hull colors of such boats were light tan, not a regular Sunfish white.
Nice condition !That's it!
Gents - shortly after I read all of this....and wished I had a really old Sunfish...just went to ebay for kicks and found 3 old school - 2 striped boats for sale in Michigan - very good looking boats!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-Su...em5d29ba9ceeQQitemZ400132054254QQptZSailboats
Paul
36474
That's it! A few pictures of the boat can be found in the "FOR SALE" section of the forum. Alcort Sunfish - hull only (Reading, PA) at the following link http://www.sunfishforum.com/showthread.php?t=33071
The owner swears that the hull has not been painted, which was my first question. I too have seen other boats like this one. SCUD's stripes look red/blue in some photos and black/blue in others.
I own, restored, and named SCUD. The hull is off-white leaning towards tan--except for the Gelcoat spots I did not quite match so well.
The stripes are a dark reddish brown, and a teal [blue-green], so you were pretty close in your guesses.
Sometimes the dark stripe looks more maroon to me, sometimes it looks brown, depending on the light. The teal is between blue and green, more to the blue side.
Hope this helps.
I will be at North Americans and Masters - your neck of the woods. Colors? Plenty of folks know more that I do. Old brochures that have been cited and/or posted don't seem to list all the color patterns that I have seen. Love the darker gray versions of your current project boat.I'd love to chat with you some time. You seem to know a lot about Sunfish colors.
Job well done. I will go to school on your SCUD posting, as I intend to make some similar repairs to a nearly identical boat. This one, as you should be able to see from the below photos, is a very well preserved version of your SCUD. I am eager to pick this boat up in a few weeks. If you are at the North Americans, you might see it.
This has me looking carefully again at the additional photos of my newly acquired boat. I'm thinking now that the "white" deck may in fact be off-white, like SCUD. That will be tougher to color match. My real goal in all of this was to nail down a production year, as the boat no longer has the serial number plate.
I will be at North Americans and Masters - your neck of the woods. Colors? Plenty of folks know more that I do. Old brochures that have been cited and/or posted don't seem to list all the color patterns that I have seen. Love the darker gray versions of your current project boat.
Those "maroon" or "brown" stripes might have been red originally. My "Red Baron" had a solid bright red deck that turned maroon with time. You would never know that it was bright red without pealing off the rail or some fittings. Same with "off-white" decks that were originally yellow. These were early 60's boats.
I'm off to do some trailer work today. Following TAD's lead on stacking two Sunfishes with one inverted. I'm buildling a frame out of fiberglass and wood for two trailers--should be interesting. I need to figure out how to store the spars still--probably on top I suppose.
Amazing. Your posts are helpful. I hope you find mine to be the same.
See images of my spar storage. 8" PVC fits a pair of masts and spars/sails (each in it's own sailbag).
See also: http://www.americanvan.com/ladder-racks/rooftop-carriers/conversion-kit.html
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I guess we're a little far off the path (Classic Sunfish Rally).
You did say that in jest..., right?
That's an honest-to-goodness late 1950s wood Sunfish ... no vinyl about it ... just patience and varnish
... same with this one:
1960s era wood Sunfish
Sailing Texas.com
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Unfortunately, Alcort had already moved to kitting boats by the time the Sunfish idea came along. Sailfish plans were once offered for sale, but Sunfish plans were never marketed. To my knowledge the shop's working drawings have never made it into the hands of the home builder.Are there any plans still around?
Still have blue/gold/white 2006 Worlds sail. If I can make it, I'll bring it.As for the Classic Sunfish Rally. I am still planning to have an event in Norwalk--leave the white sails home. I want as much color on the water as possible for photo opportunities.
If not for cost, winter weather and liberal politics, I'd live up there. Many years spent running submarines in/out of New London during cold war.Connecticut is the home of the Sunfish. The biggest Sunfish rally in the world belongs right here. Calf Pasture Beach and the Norwalk Islands are arguably the most beautiful spot to sail in New England. So, come to this event and help me get it rolling, and you can say you were there at the very first Norwalk Sunfish Rally.