Seaotter5
Well-Known Member
My 30 year old son has recently expressed an interest in sailing together, and there is no way both of us are going to fit on my Minifish. I am looking at a 1960's Sunfish that appears to be in good shape: it isn't overweight, the sail is new, the hardware seems to be securely attached, etc. I had a very similar Sunfish about 30 years ago, but I rarely used it, as I didn't have a trailer, and car topping it wasn't as easy as it sounds!
My question is about the old style rudder assembly. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I never realized that the rudder on my old Sunfish WOULD pop up! I sailed it from a dock, and I would just set the rudder in place before we sailed off. In retrospect I really don't remember how I did it.
But I have read that the fixture loosens up over time, and that the rudder can "pop up" unexpectedly while sailing. Ok, that doesn't sound disastrous, just annoying. (And possibly very wet, if the boat goes out of control!) If it does pop out, can you push it back into place using the tiller, like the newer versions? It would seem that it would almost have to.
I am not going to spend $200 upgrading a $400 boat. Is it reasonable to just tolerate the old rudder, or should I wait until a new boat comes along?
My question is about the old style rudder assembly. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I never realized that the rudder on my old Sunfish WOULD pop up! I sailed it from a dock, and I would just set the rudder in place before we sailed off. In retrospect I really don't remember how I did it.
But I have read that the fixture loosens up over time, and that the rudder can "pop up" unexpectedly while sailing. Ok, that doesn't sound disastrous, just annoying. (And possibly very wet, if the boat goes out of control!) If it does pop out, can you push it back into place using the tiller, like the newer versions? It would seem that it would almost have to.
I am not going to spend $200 upgrading a $400 boat. Is it reasonable to just tolerate the old rudder, or should I wait until a new boat comes along?