Sunfish Hiking Bench

[Becool44]

So I’m getting serious about training for Fall regattas, especially the Geezer Nationals, and decided I need to build a Hiking Bench.

So there is a plan in one of the OLD Sunfish books to build one from dimension lumber. Easy-peasy. The problem is that its design is sort of a generic sit-up exercise bench, developed before the Sunfish class allowed a hiking strap. So it makes for a bent-leg hiking style, more like a Snipe, Thistle, or Lightning than the Sunfish, where it’s a more straight-legged position.

Here is the design:

So, my thought is to make the Bench lower, and try to simulate the exact position for hiking out on the Sunfish, now that it has a centerline strap.

I appreciate your input and ideas. Has anyone built an accurate Sunfish hiking simulator?

Scott Shirley
USA 49229 Sunfoosh SV “No Bozos”
Fort Worth, Texas

 

[signal charlie]

My thoughts are why not make it similar to dimensions of the Sunfish cockpit? And maybe add a line to simulate a sheet coming off of a ratchet block.

 

[beldar boathead]

I know people have added a very thick shock cord attached to some sheet line to simulate pulling on the sheet while hiking on the bench.

 

[danpal]

I found these on-line. The Hike Pro looks nice but it's expensive. I'm sure if you were handy, you could make something similar out of plywood.

There are also these plans which looks very easy to build. They're located at Everything I Know About Hiking Benches.