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| From Small Boat Restoration |
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
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.
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Trailering Multiple Sunfish
Here are a few ideas to trailer 3 or 4 Sunfish. First trailer has an added frame
Image SailingForumsSunfish
This was a double jet ski trailer
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
This was a double jet ski trailer
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| 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.
We selected cypress because it is rot resistant and Wilson Lumber runs a cypress sawmill in nearby Milton, FL.
All the cypress gets used, as lumber, mulch, sawdust or shavings
The lumber is stacked to dry
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.
Looks like I got some trailer guides for the ODay trailer from Eddie English while I was in Milton
Going to replace the port side first
Bilge is not in too bad a shape, just a few 14 year old leaves from Yuma, AZ
Laid the pieces out for the port side
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
Used a jigsaw to trim pieces to size and palm sander to round edges
Measured widths and length of cross members to transfer over to scrap pieces. Used a square with ruler dialed in to scribe new backers
Cut backers and laid them out to match old sole
Use brass screws instead of nails, matched nailing pattern. Also drilled pilot holes
Dry fit the cypress sole
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
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.
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
We selected cypress because it is rot resistant and Wilson Lumber runs a cypress sawmill in nearby Milton, FL.
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
All the cypress gets used, as lumber, mulch, sawdust or shavings
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
The lumber is stacked to dry
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
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.
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Looks like I got some trailer guides for the ODay trailer from Eddie English while I was in Milton
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Going to replace the port side first
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Bilge is not in too bad a shape, just a few 14 year old leaves from Yuma, AZ
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Laid the pieces out for the port side
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| 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
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Used a jigsaw to trim pieces to size and palm sander to round edges
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Cut backers and laid them out to match old sole
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Use brass screws instead of nails, matched nailing pattern. Also drilled pilot holes
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
Dry fit the cypress sole
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
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| From Small Boat Restoration |
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| 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.
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.
The sail looks nice with the medium blue deck on Wave. We also are getting used to using our new tiller extension.
Light winds equal great reflection shots.
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.
Wind was light so there wasn't much hiking out :)
Had a great time!
 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.
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| 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.
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Light winds equal great reflection shots.
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| 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.
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Wind was light so there wasn't much hiking out :)
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Had a great time!
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Monday, May 13, 2013
Bridle Replacement
Bridle needs replacement
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
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| 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
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Sunfish Trailer Bunks and Rollers
Needed to install a roller to support forward part of keel
Want something similar to this setup
Visited Eddie English Trailers in Milton, FL. They custom build trailers and have everything!
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.
Trailer is ready to roll now
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Want something similar to this setup
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Visited Eddie English Trailers in Milton, FL. They custom build trailers and have everything!
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
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| 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.
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Trailer is ready to roll now
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| 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
Cut plug off old wires and tape new wires to old wires
Wires provably branch off mid frame. Start pulling them through there
Tools needed and camp stool is required equipment
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
A good ground (white wire) is essential
Lights work....correctly!
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Cut plug off old wires and tape new wires to old wires
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Wires provably branch off mid frame. Start pulling them through there
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Tools needed and camp stool is required equipment
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| 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
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
A good ground (white wire) is essential
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
Lights work....correctly!
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| From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration |
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