Yes, why would Alan have a boat? We need to get to the bottom of this!Who is Alan and why would he have a boat? Is he someone who could help me with air testing my boat for leaks or repairing them?
Picture 4, with a roughly circular defect at the bottom?I see a hole in the trunk
Hey, I know that beach!I agree with Signal Charlie. I'm really happy with my Sunfish which I bought new last year! Had to throw in a "show off" photo.
I only see the opening on the bottom. I don’t see the hole. Where about is it?If not more. You don't see it?
I didn’t leak test yet. Yes it had water from the rain.Picture 4, with a roughly circular defect at the bottom?
One pic may be showing a slash of sunlight that looks like a long tear (or a "de-lamination"). I'd think all surfaces should all look consistently uniform. Do I see a previous white Marine-Tex touch-up?
The mast step looks wet from testing. Did it hold water overnight?
I don’t have indoor storage- I would have to see if it can fit inside my house. Doesn’t drying it out need inspection ports? I know I can’t do that myself. I would need the repair guy.Now we’re getting somewhere. If you can weigh your boat (and you did) then you can patch that daggerboard trunk. Yes, a small hole or crack can easily take on a lot of water. There are some chips in trunk and mast hole that can be filled with Marine Tex. Buy a small box- color white- sold on amazon or your favorite boating store for about $15.00. If you go on YouTube and look at the first video for Marine Tex you will surely be confused. It is a terrible video- the guy really botched the job and made a huge mess! I was thinking it must be your repair guy again. Simply read the directions, mix the entire kit (don’t mix it on a piece of cardboard like in the video where he wastes half the product spreading it like frosting all over the place)
I mix the two parts thoroughly with a chopstick or such, keeping it in the original small glass bottle. You may not need the full amount, but it’s much easier, as it’s difficult to get a proper ratio of the two parts (liquid catalyst and cream hardener). Check over the Mini and you’ll more than likely find other chips or cracks that could use a bit of the same mixture. Be sure the damaged areas are clean and any chips are sanded before applying. Don’t overdo it- remember you need to fit the mast and daggerboard back into those areas- just enough to fill the void. You can sand it after it hardens, but don’t make too much work for yourself by over applying.
The Mini is overweight and the interior foam will need to dry out. Do you have indoor storage for it this winter? We can walk you through the drying process if you’re up for it! You’ll be sailing a light, fun boat by spring and will feel great knowing you’ve done the work yourself.
I thought that maybe there would be more resistance from the sunfish sheet and tiller because it has more sail area than a mini has.The vent would be a good indicator of how much air us coming out, we wouldn't cover it. It is also a good spot to pump air in, hard to pump much air through that little hole. Your electric pump should work just fine.
FWIW we don't like those transom dollies. That is a lot of stress on that fitting, probably going to work it loose and cause leaks. It is also not handy to pull the boat by the bow handle as it is only held in by 4 screws.
You should be able to handle the Sunfish sheet and tiller just as well as a waterlogged Mini.
Consider checking with Alan to see if he has a good boat for you to buy for next season, he is about 3 hours away.
I thought that maybe there would be more resistance from the sunfish sheet and tiller because it has more sail area than a mini has.
Thank you. I will know for sure in the spring when I sail the used Sunfish I decided to buy. Any advice on winter storage? I have to keep it outside and we get a lot of snow up here. I've kept my old one on a wooden deck, up on it's side, leaning against a wooden railing- or leaning against the side of my house with a piece of wood under the edge so it's not touching the frozen ground. I don't cover it. I've read that it should be covered with a tarp but also read that it should NOT be covered because condensation builds up on the boat under the plastic.You heavy Mini does not heel as much as it should, so sheet resistance is about the same. Maybe even a little more. And you can only pull the same amount on each boat, so on a Sunfish you just may not be able to sheet in as far, that is countered by the sail having more sail area. If your Mini is indeed 160 pounds then you may find a dry Sunfish more responsive with less effort.
Skipper is comfortable with the sheet on both boats, she likes having more room for her legs and knees in the Sunfish cockpit.
Something soft?You can't keep water out but you can keep it in. Your Frozen North neighbors will have some specific ideas, but in general a tarp is good as long as air can circulate under it. Keep the cockpit facing the house there is less chance of water or snow getting in there, freezing, expanding and breaking the fiberglass seams.
I'd put something soft under the deck edge. And remember to wear white socks with black shoes while storing your boats...
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Oops meant to post this in the thread another thread about winter storageNice info GZ. A good tip is to put some kind of screen across open ports, lest the hull become a critter condo.
Actually I balled up some old pond netting I saved and stuffed it in the opening,air and moisture can get out, no critters in.Nice info GZ. A good tip is to put some kind of screen across open ports, lest the hull become a critter condo.
Scrap carpetingSomething soft?
I used swim noodles. Should that work?Scrap carpeting
I have it up against the house on one edge. It’s under the eves so I’m wondering if that’s enough protection or I should drape a plastic tarp over it. I attached a photo.Just catching up to this thread and reading the latest replies... in Coronado, I stored my Laser and my Minifish up against the northern wall of my house, but that was to help keep the sun from beating down on the boat, tarp or no tarp. I also built simple wooden cradles with thin ply and a few pieces of scrap lumber. Padded each cradle with an old Mexican blanket... I'd rinse whichever hull on my driveway or dolly to get the salt water off it, then place it in the appropriate cradle. Deck always toward the house, all hatch covers off, and a tarp on the boat once it dried. Not a bad system, and having the concrete driveway right there made loading and unloading relatively easy while cartopping. BTW, large rubber-coated utility hooks from Home Depot (or some similar store) are great for storing spars out of the way along an interior garage or carport wall, and a simple outdoor wooden drying rack for lines and gear will add to their working life... I'd rinse everything back in the day and drape it over the drying rack, nothing got stored elsewhere until it was fully dry, yeah? Anything stored wet will bring on mold and mildew, which you do NOT want. Not exactly sure what sort of storage area the OP has, but a quick gander at dinghy storage at the nearest club or marina may provide some alternate ideas & solutions. Moi, I liked storing each of my boats up on one rail to keep my driveway clear, but of course I was cartopping so I didn't have to worry about a trailer. Just my $.02, CHEERS!!!
Yes- I put the noodles under the rail to cushion it. Think that’ll do the trick?If the sun beats on the hull anytime during the day, cover the hull with a tarp... better for the tarp to take the solar abuse rather than the hull. Looks like you have some pool noodles jammed under the rail? You can make a simple wooden storage cradle using a few scraps of lumber and some thin plywood... doesn't have to look pretty, just provide fuller support for the rail. Not rocket science, and you can pad the curved cradle with an old blanket or beach towel folded lengthwise. Otherwise, nice autumnal photo with the falling leaves, LOL... another reason to tarp the boat, so wet decomposing leaves don't dirty or stain the hull.
They are fine. I’d put a tarp over it.Yes- I put the noodles under the rail to cushion it. Think that’ll do the trick?