How to replace a Sunfish Bow Handle

21 Jul 24: 

To replace a bow handle on older Sunfish (1960-1988 mostly) there is a trick. The screws go into a wooden backer block beneath the deck, that is held in place by adhesive and a strip of fiberglass. If the wood block adhesive or the fiberglass strip have come loose, then the block may fall down IF ALL OF THE SCREWS ARE REMOVED AT THE SAME TIME. So the trick is to leave one screw on the old handle snug, swivel the old handle to the side, and then get one screw started in the new handle. Once the new handle's screw is into the wooden block, take the old handle's screw out and finish attaching the new handle. 

Video: https://youtu.be/VWlgBnl9GoI?si=jzcTI9gwZOi-o_cu

What about the 1988 and newer Sunfish? Those boats have aluminum plates which tend to stay in place better. 

Fair Winds,

Clark and Skipper

Skipper's "Pirating About" Chandlery Open for Barter and Trade

21 Feb 24:

Skipper is offering barter and trade items through her chandlery named Pirating About.

The first items in stock are vintage bronze knees and oarlock sockets and a random bracket.

1/2 inch diameter oarlock (rollock) sockets.

$50 USD takes it all

Shipping included in CONUS.

Paypal, money order, check or cash

We'll also barter for Sunfish

FMI: email lewis dot kent at gmail 

Cheers,

Clark and Skipper

Pirating About Chandlery - Other Booty For Sale

How To Sneak Boat Parts Into the House

18 Jul 24:

We were confused by the box when this anchor was delivered....thought "who sent us flowers...and they're heavy..."

We bought a Wilcox & Crittenden Inc anchor, and the seller did not mention the weight, it is an 18 pounder, which might be just a bit big for our day sailing outings. 

We do like the patina, and need to get the back story on "PIRATES DEN."

Skipper's Guide To Rig A Sunfish

09 Jul 24:

We put together a trifold brochure on how to rig the popular Sunfish sailboat. The brochure is printed on waterproof paper so that it can head to the beach with you and your Sunfish.

$5 USD includes shipping via USPS in CONUS.

Secure Purchase with Paypal

Bulk orders available, or if you prefer check or money order, send an gmail to lewis dot kent 

Sail On!

(Clark) Kent and (Skipper) Audrey

Authors of The Sunfish Owners Manual and Skipper's Guide To Small Boat Knots

Biathlon

08 Jul 24: 

Biked an 8K and walked a 5K today. Took the Mustang for a ride. Thought about cutting fiberglass cloth for the Catfish repair...

 

Katie's GEM

06 Jul 24: 

There are a lot of boats at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, but one catches my eye every time, the little boat named GEM. From the HMM website:

     "GEM was Katherine Kilton Herreshoff’s fifteenth birthday present from her father, John Brown Herreshoff. GEM is of unusually light construction and fine craftsmanship. Built in 1885, she is the second oldest surviving Herreshoff boat after SPRITE. Katherine (Katie) Herreshoff accompanied her blind father around the yard and on business trips, and became thoroughly familiar with the workings of the company and its products. She became an ardent and skilled photographer who took scores of pictures, many from the water while rowing in GEM. Those photographs today are a major part of the Herreshoff story. GEM has three rowing positions, a stern backrest with name carved in Old English letters, a boat hook, oars and oarlocks, and rudder with yoke. Katherine kept the rowboat for nearly 70 years, until her death in 1954. Her two daughters then cared for the boat, with Louise bequeathing it to the museum in 1986. GEM is essentially in original condition, having been cared for by a single family for over a century.

Katherine (Katie) Herreshoff rowing GEM
Image: Off Center Harbor

A few more image captures from the Off Center Harbor video HERRESHOFF MARINE MUSEUM, PART 6 – IN THE BOAT HALL: THE DINGHIES 

Many thanks to Maynard and Eric for taking us along on the tour.

Sunbrella Spars On Deck Cover for Sunfish Sailboat by SLO Sail and Canvas

04 Jul 24:

We invest good money in our boat covers because they keep the hull, blades, spas and sail clean while the boats are in storage. That saves us time when we are ready to go sailing by not having to clean the boat, and prevents damage to expensive components like the sail and wooden blades. SLO Sail and Canvas is our Go To cover maker, we order the "Spars On Deck" cover in Sunbrella Pacific blue with the straps.

The Bridge To Nowhere.

This cover was cleaned a few months back, so all of this gunk would have been on the boat.

Video: https://youtu.be/jlIWJtrD5Gc?si=5_ZV9qZhEhO_ccZQ

Red, White and Blue 4th

04 Jul 24:

Our 1982 Olympic schemed Sunfish named PHOENIX helped us celebrate the 4th, along with our Pelican Icon kayak named CLARK. The Admiral took out PHOENIX first, to see if my post hurricane bow replacement was still seaworthy. She tried to trick me into going first, but I didn't fall for that. 

The locals looked on with disinterest.

Video: https://youtu.be/48IEJOXbM9k?si=vu_2iNLMeRDQnuek

Sea Retrials successfully completed, the bow remained attached so the Admiral gave me the tiller and sheet for a bit. 

How easy is launch and recovery with the Dynamic Dolly...Super easy, so easy we can do it one handed while filming... https://youtu.be/e5Q4gVWBi2g

If you are interested in ordering a Dynamic Dolly with free shipping in CONUS, we are dealers. Drop us a note to lewis dot kent at gmail

The double paddle we made from spruce and Skipper's Greenland style paddle by Shaw & Tenney.

We were very happy with this "carry on" setup compared to the Malone trailer, fewer straps, no sliding of boat to dolly and back and we didn't have to break down the dolly

Yard decorations.

Log of PHOENIX.

Log of CLARK.

Embark Prep

01 Jul 24: 

We are planning a red, white and blue  sail on the 4th of July, so we loaded up the utility trailer for the adventure a few days early with our Olympic schemed 1982 AMF Sunfish PHOENIX and the Pelican Icon 10 CLARK. 

But first, we needed to air up the dolly tires, manufactured in March of 2015 and noticed some dry rot on the side. I checked with the dolly manufacturer and they let us know that it would be okay to inflate the tubes. Replacement tires and tubes are available, we'll get some ordered. 

Tires have a Week Year date stamped on the side when they are made in the WWYY format, so this tire was made the 11th week of 2015. We don't run trailer tires over 6 years, but we are not as concerned about a low speed dolly tire carrying a lightweight sailboat.

The DeWALT 20V inflator has been one of our favorite pieces of gear, with 3 cars, 5 trailers, 7 dollies and two wagons.

We wondered if the kayak would fit neatly next to the Sunfish and it sure did. We also mounted the spare tire. 

The spar bag from SLO Sail and Canvas has worked great for transporting the spars and sail. 

Video: https://youtu.be/Qe3gngEWZuE?si=_jRp2X7_ljcGjN8u

Tour de Smithfield

01 Jul 24: 

We walked a 5K at our local park, said hey to the critters and took notice of the marsh greening up.