Friday, May 31, 2013

Early Woden Sunfish

Got an offer to restore the 13th Sunfish made, a wooden model assembled at the factory. The owner bought it and never got to restore it, he saw the work we did and wanted to offer it to us. The Sunfish is currently in Grand Island, NY and it is ours if we want it, just have to pick it up. It will be a fun drive. The owner also has a 1977 boat looking for a new home, so we get to test out the double stack trailer. Here is a shot of the boat

From Small Boat Restoration

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Drascombe Lugger Sole Varnish

Finished port side sole and sprayed it with Minwax semi gloss spar varnish. It went on fast and easy, plus no cleanup.

From Small Boat Restoration

Trailering Multiple Sunfish

Here are a few ideas to trailer 3 or 4 Sunfish. First trailer has an added frame

From Small Boat Restoration
Image SailingForumsSunfish

This was a double jet ski trailer


From Small Boat Restoration

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Drascombe Lugger Cockpit Sole

Time to replace the cockpit decking in the 1980 Drascombe Lugger. The deck was replaced years ago and is starting to crack.

From Small Boat Restoration

We selected cypress because it is rot resistant and Wilson Lumber runs a cypress sawmill in nearby Milton, FL.

From Small Boat Restoration

All the cypress gets used, as lumber, mulch, sawdust or shavings

From Small Boat Restoration

The lumber is stacked to dry

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I wanted 10 foot boards, the longest piece needed is just under 9 feet. They had more number 1 grade available in in 12 footers, so I had them cut 2 feet off the end, that way they'd fit in the van.

From Small Boat Restoration

Looks like I got some trailer guides for the ODay trailer from Eddie English while I was in Milton

From Small Boat Restoration

Going to replace the port side first

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Bilge is not in too bad a shape, just a few 14 year old leaves from Yuma, AZ

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Laid the pieces out for the port side

From Small Boat Restoration

Flipped the sole over and lined it up with the cypress. Turns out the 2 foot pieces match up perfectly for the part that wraps the centerboard trunk. Used a pencil to trace profile onto cypress

From Small Boat Restoration

Used a jigsaw to trim pieces to size and palm sander to round edges

From Small Boat Restoration

From Small Boat Restoration
Measured widths and length of cross members to transfer over to scrap pieces. Used a square with ruler dialed in to scribe new backers

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Cut backers and laid them out to match old sole

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Use brass screws instead of nails, matched nailing pattern. Also drilled pilot holes

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Dry fit the cypress sole

From Small Boat Restoration

From Small Boat Restoration

From Small Boat Restoration

Sun going down, skeeters inbound. Next I'll put top screws and pick out a protective finish, Lugger lives in garage when not sailing, leaning towards a marine spar varnish for now

From Small Boat Restoration

Skipped the varnish and sprayed on a coat of Minwax Polycrylic, it is a water based finish. It should be good for the light use that the boat gets, easy to apply. Once it wears off we will probably just oil the cypress and let it age naturally.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Sunfish Sailing

We wanted to test out an older sail and a swivel cam cleat that we installed on Wave. The sail, spars and mast came from a craigslist purchase, sail was made by Pensacola sailmaker Schurr Sails, probably in the mid 80s. Launched from the natural beach, Seitech dolly makes it easy. I push the dolly in far enough to see the boat float, then slide the boat a little further back so dolly can be pulled back onto the beach.




From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Today the wind was blowing down the shore, so I put the rudder down, jumped in, pushed off, put the daggerboard down about halfway and sheeted in. Mother Nature did the rest.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

The sail looks nice with the medium blue deck on Wave. We also are getting used to using our new tiller extension.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Light winds equal great reflection shots.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Got past our sandbar, put the board all the way down. This is the shadow daggerboard and it has more area than the original 1965 board. I could feel a difference adjusting the board in deeper water. The sail set great and has a lot of life left in it.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration


From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Wind was light so there wasn't much hiking out :)

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Had a great time!

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Monday, May 13, 2013

Sunset on the Bay

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Bridle Replacement

Bridle needs replacement

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

If Sunfish is late 80s or older, the screws go into a wooden backer block, held in place by adhesive or fiberglassed into place. Sometimes the block can come come loose of both screws are removed at the same time. To prevent this, only remove one screw at a time and loosen the other. Put new bridle on and reinstall screw. Newer Sunfish have a threaded metal backer plate

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Sunfish Trailer Bunks and Rollers

Needed to install a roller to support forward part of keel

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Want something similar to this setup

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Visited Eddie English Trailers in Milton, FL. They custom build trailers and have everything!

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Picked a 4 inch roller on adjustable brackets. This color roller won't mark up the hull. I positioned the roller directly below the mast step, the fiberglass is doubled up there. Bunks are under the cockpit. Daggerboard well is another good place to support the boat. These locations are also the best to use if you transport the boat upside down.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Trailer is ready to roll now

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Trailer lights

Putting new lights on a trailer. Going to use old wires to pull new wires through frame

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Cut plug off old wires and tape new wires to old wires

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Wires provably branch off mid frame. Start pulling them through there

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Tools needed and camp stool is required equipment

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Pull yellow/brown to left side and green/brown to right. Splice in to new taillights and protect with shrink wrap or electrical tape. Stow excess wire in frame

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

A good ground (white wire) is essential

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Lights work....correctly!

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration