Unless the original sail is in rough shape, you'd probably be fine to keep sailing with it. The newer sail will help if you're planning to race other Sunfish, but if you're just sailing for recreation, then you probably don't need to upgrade.
Intensity Sails is a good source for a new sail if you go that route:
Parts & Sails for The Sunfish®
Yes if you only plan to sail recreationally this sail is fine. Laser Performance makes the authentic Sunfish sails at a good price if you decide to replace this one.
I’d install a ratchet block with the option of side deck cleats if you think you need them.
Check the vertical bolt on the transom. It should be ina vertical tube. Seems unimportant but actually helps keep rudder from shifting side to side and popping up while underway. If you need a tube there are some posts on this board about getting the right dimensions
Nice boat - nice find!!
I agree with Beldar - get the recreation line kit from APS.I need new lines for rigging. Should I buy some sort of kit, OEM stuff or is there an upgrade I should consider?
The key word here is "seemed"... as the physics really doesn't work that wayWhat we found with the 3 loop bridle was that with the sheet captured in the middle, the sheet seemed to lift the the upwind edge of the stern out of the water, and the rudder along with it. Just a bit, but enough where the rudder effectiveness is diminished.
Saying having the sheet fixed at the center point of the bridle pulls the stern out of the water, and it imparts a heeling moment because the vector is captured more by the upside eyestrap. With the 2 loop the sheet is free to seek a better balance.
Sailing terminology is another deep swamp. Every subculture develops its own vocabulary, synonyms are countless, and we're not even talking about actual different languages yet. The "bridle"/"traveller" distinction makes more sense to a non-Sunfishian speakerThe bridle is a tiller bridle, it keeps the tiller from escaping. LP calls it a bridle and I'm happy with that.
Drascombe - WikipediaName the boat.