Sunfish Pickin: Fairhope, AL

Got a text with a lead on a Sunfish in Fairhope Alabama and finally had a chance to go look at it. The boat was being lightly used, had a leak from an unknown source and had some damage from a dock encounter. Hooked up the Pickin trailer and headed to Fairhope.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

There were several texts and phone calls, trying to narrow down the condition of the boat. It had replacement rudder parts, decent gelcoat, factory spars and mast. The boat got a little water inside after extended sailing. We narrowed down a price range, based on whether the boat was waterlogged or not. The scale would tell the tale. Got to Fairhope and put the hull on a bathroom scale first thing, and it came in at an amazing 134 pounds. There are a few gel coat chips on the chine, faded stripes and faded coaming, crusty bow handle and some stickers to remove. Otherwise hull is in great shape. Rudder was factory, looked like an older model, cheek was new, tiller and hiking stick in good shape. Daggerboard is a newer plastic model, and tip is broken off. Spars are correct length but gaff has a small bend and interlocking bolt is torn out of boom. Mast is average and is starting to show wear from usage in saltwater in the form of corrosion holes. There was no sail, it must have been damaged in dock encounter

We made a deal, money collected will go to support a medical mission in Ecuador. Kathryn was a big help providing information on the boat and moving parts around, we got the boat loaded onto the trailer and I hit the road back to NW Florida.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

I forgot the curly pool noodles that I use to cushion the spars, so I used my shop towels as backup. Wrapped the spars and mast, used sheet and halyard to secure them to the boat. Then secured the boat to the trailer with a line at the bow and two ratchet straps. Remember not to over tighten the ratchet, the straps can crack the hull.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -