How about a Classic Sunfish Rally??
- Thread starter 58984 EW
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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.
You make me laugh.
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'd love to chat with you some time. You seem to know a lot about Sunfish colors.
You make me laugh.
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'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.
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.
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FYI. I could have matched the color better. The second time around in my attempt at color matching, I used only a yellow tint and it came somewhat close so I left it like that. Your boat looks fabulous. I wish SCUD looked so good. Then again SCUD was a free boat so I can't complain.
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.
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
Eventually, when I get around to trailer building, I will incorporate the PVC tube into the design. For several years now, I strap one boat atop the pickup rack. My "main squeeze" boat rides on the dolly, which in turn is straped down inside the truckbed with the tailgate down. I use a pair of 8 foot 2x8's for ramps and roll the boat on the dolly right up into the truckbed. It just does fit.
Downside: the tail end of the boat sticks out about 4-5 feet (not a problem so far). Upside: No trailer woes and a very smooth ride for the boat (provided I don't try to strap the boat directly to the truck).
I guess we're a little far off the path (Classic Sunfish Rally).
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
Eventually, when I get around to trailer building, I will incorporate the PVC tube into the design. For several years now, I strap one boat atop the pickup rack. My "main squeeze" boat rides on the dolly, which in turn is straped down inside the truckbed with the tailgate down. I use a pair of 8 foot 2x8's for ramps and roll the boat on the dolly right up into the truckbed. It just does fit.
Downside: the tail end of the boat sticks out about 4-5 feet (not a problem so far). Upside: No trailer woes and a very smooth ride for the boat (provided I don't try to strap the boat directly to the truck).
I guess we're a little far off the path (Classic Sunfish Rally).
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I learned a long time ago that sailors need to be humble. I welcome the opportunity to learn from anyone.
My experience is snobby know it all's, actually know very little. I know a good way to give a snob a dose of humility. Do you know how to spot a good helmsman? First show you can steer a good course. Then steer a good course on the ocean down wind in moderate waves. Then steer a good course at night on the ocean, down wind. Then steer a good course downwind at night, on on the ocean with overcast skys. Then do that will a dual wheel set up with one of those screwy compass with curved lubber lines. Then do all that with your compass light out when it is pitch black. Don't ask me how many times I've been in this situation. Compass lights crap out all the time. People that think they can helm are all over the place and breaking deck hardware. Sometimes all you have for a reference is the wind. When sailing downwind, if you go off course, and slow down, the apparent wind shifts all over the place. On a few dark nights my last trip I watched everyone, even one experienced Captain, sail in circles two or three times in a row with unintentional jibes. I laugh every time I think about it.
In any event. I welcome the opportunity to learn from you.
I like your PVC system and it is good to know two rigs will fit in one. I love the caps. I was thinking about making something out of fiberglass, but those are nice. I may use that on my big trailer. I want to carry seven or eight rigs. Perhaps I should be looking at even larger PVC. Could I fit three rigs in a 10" PVC? four in a 12" (if they make such a thing.
For my smaller trailers--I have 2x12 for my cross bracing for the frame that mates one Sunfish inverted on top of the other. I was thinking about two 6" PVC tubes. An 8' tube won't work unfortunately. Two 6" tubes one on either side would work though and they might actually strengthen the assembly. I did not get started on the trailer today. I decided to clean out my tiny garage. My workbench has turned into storage and my only hope was to start tossing things out. I built an L-shaped addtion on to my main workbench, used some rope to store my ladders above the garage door, and used up some paint--painting one wall. i was actually quite surprised to see how much sandpaper, and fiberglass cloth I have--I'm looking forward to using some of that up.
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. My goals is to get this event started this year, and I'm writing a few places for sponsorship to see if I can raffle off some things like Access Ports, perhaps a sail, and I've been thinking about contacting LP to see if they will provide a boat to raffle off. If I get a few dozen boats this year, I'll be happy. Next year my goals is 2500 boats, with an ultimate goal of making this the biggest ever Sunfish class rally, or any class for that matter. 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.
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
Sailing Texas.com
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You know, that almost look like it would be a fun wintertime project. Are there any plans still around?
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.
There are a number of Sunfish-like boat plans available, both for free and for a nominal fee. You can find many of the links consolidated in threads at Wooden Boat Forum and the File Library at Sunfish Sailor, under Clonefish. Sunfish Sailor also has a downloadable copy of the Alcort Sunfish kit assembly instructions and the Alcort Sailfish prints.
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There are a number of Sunfish-like boat plans available, both for free and for a nominal fee. You can find many of the links consolidated in threads at Wooden Boat Forum and the File Library at Sunfish Sailor, under Clonefish. Sunfish Sailor also has a downloadable copy of the Alcort Sunfish kit assembly instructions and the Alcort Sailfish prints.
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