ECUmedford
New Member
I am new to this forum but so glad to have found a wealth of information here. I've spent the past three years sailing a Tanzer 16 and occasionally help crew my father-in-law's McGregor 26. He came across a good deal on three old Sun Fish and I ended up buying one of them. It is a 1969 and, of course, needs a lot of work! I figure, why not start a "restoration" thread and document my progress. I'm not sure that I am looking to restore the boat to it's glory days, but I certainly want to get it in sailing condition and see what else I want to do to it!
I've already done quite a bit since I picked it up Saturday:
1) Cleaned the Boat
I cleaned the boat the best I could with clorox cleaner and a scrub brush, but that is certainly not enough. Someone posted something about using an automotive rubbing compound. I don't have a buffer, but I think the auto parts store sells pads that can go on an orbital sander.
2) Fix Rudder Deck Plate Screw
The big screw that is closest to the cockpit that holds the rudder deck plate down came right out. Just by the look of the screw I could tell that the wood block was wet and rotten. I decided to put a 6 inch inspection port where the bridle is. [cue my art teacher wife that can cut a perfect circle with a jig saw every time] When I looked inside the hull for the first time, I realized there was a lot of moisture in the foam. We hammered the top layer of foam away. I felt the wood block and decided it was salvageable. I ended up drilling the screw hole and using a bolt, washer, lock nut and nut to secure the rudder deck plate. Seemed to do the trick!
3) Fix Bow Handle
The bow handle was hanging on to the boat by a single screw. I ended up having to put another inspection port on the port side of the bow. Once I got in there the wood block was completely rotten. I pulled it all out. I ended up buying a 2" wide piece of aluminum, cut it to about 7 inches in length and drilled four holes in it for the handle. I secured the handle putting the aluminum piece below deck and using stainless steel bolts, lock nuts and nuts. It seems very strong. Just based on these repairs, I think it is a really bad idea to keep your sunfish upside down (at least on these old boats).
4) Refinish Rudder, Tiller and Keel
I sanded, stained and polyurethaned my rudder, tiller and keel without researching the best way to do it. I probably did not do it properly or with the best supplies. I used my orbital sander and sanded it with 60, 180 and 320. Just did one coat of walnut stain and three coats of polyurethane that I had in my shop. I realize now that I probably should have gone with a marine varnish, but with the closest marine store over an hour away, I am happy to get it in good enough shape to sail this year and perhaps redo it this winter.
Here are a few pictures. I will post more tomorrow.
I've already done quite a bit since I picked it up Saturday:
1) Cleaned the Boat
I cleaned the boat the best I could with clorox cleaner and a scrub brush, but that is certainly not enough. Someone posted something about using an automotive rubbing compound. I don't have a buffer, but I think the auto parts store sells pads that can go on an orbital sander.
2) Fix Rudder Deck Plate Screw
The big screw that is closest to the cockpit that holds the rudder deck plate down came right out. Just by the look of the screw I could tell that the wood block was wet and rotten. I decided to put a 6 inch inspection port where the bridle is. [cue my art teacher wife that can cut a perfect circle with a jig saw every time] When I looked inside the hull for the first time, I realized there was a lot of moisture in the foam. We hammered the top layer of foam away. I felt the wood block and decided it was salvageable. I ended up drilling the screw hole and using a bolt, washer, lock nut and nut to secure the rudder deck plate. Seemed to do the trick!
3) Fix Bow Handle
The bow handle was hanging on to the boat by a single screw. I ended up having to put another inspection port on the port side of the bow. Once I got in there the wood block was completely rotten. I pulled it all out. I ended up buying a 2" wide piece of aluminum, cut it to about 7 inches in length and drilled four holes in it for the handle. I secured the handle putting the aluminum piece below deck and using stainless steel bolts, lock nuts and nuts. It seems very strong. Just based on these repairs, I think it is a really bad idea to keep your sunfish upside down (at least on these old boats).
4) Refinish Rudder, Tiller and Keel
I sanded, stained and polyurethaned my rudder, tiller and keel without researching the best way to do it. I probably did not do it properly or with the best supplies. I used my orbital sander and sanded it with 60, 180 and 320. Just did one coat of walnut stain and three coats of polyurethane that I had in my shop. I realize now that I probably should have gone with a marine varnish, but with the closest marine store over an hour away, I am happy to get it in good enough shape to sail this year and perhaps redo it this winter.
Here are a few pictures. I will post more tomorrow.
