18 Dec 20:
We collect advertising materials on the Sunfish, they provide great information on the evolution of the boat, features and specifications throughout the years. First developed by Alex Bryan and Cortlandt Heyniger (Alcort) in 1953 as a sister ship to the popular 1947 Sailfish, the first Sunfish were built in wood. In 1960 the fiberglass hull was introduced and production took off, fiberglass Sunfish are still manufactured today by Laser Performance. The brochure we recently acquired dates to 1971, the first year that the "new style" rudder appeared, and the cockpit storage cuddy. Triple stripes also appeared on the foredeck, and these features help date boats made in the days prior to U. S. Coast Guard required Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) being stamped on the upper right transom.
We love the vintage 5 panel sails shown above, made by Ratsey and Lapthorn, soft and quiet, they last forever when properly cared for. AMF acquired Alcort in 1969 along with a lot of other sport and recreation businesses, for years we only knew them for their bowling balls. Had no idea they owned Harley Davidson as well. Hull weight stayed at 139 pounds, it would drop 10 pounds in 1988, not sure what was taken out, but we do know that the hulls made from 1960-1987 are well built and easy to repair.
Which way should the daggerboard tip point? Fore or aft? Decide for yourself. We like it this way, if we hit an obstruction or beach the boat, the daggerboard tends to ride up vs dig in. Other advertising materials show the tip forward.
You may have spotted the spars on the wrong side of the mast on the brochure cover photo, that is because the image is reversed. At first we thought it was a mistake by the advertising folks, now we believe that it is done on purpose, we always expect to find one photo reversed and spend extra time looking for it. Sometimes the gooseneck is installed pointing the wrong way, like the image below, it should point to starboard. If not, the halyard traps the sail against the mast. But you spent time looking for it, didn't you?
(Image: Laser Perfomance 2020)
Foam blocks of closed cell extruded polystyrene (XPS) were used for flotation and to stiffen the deck and hull. Fastened in place with 2 part marine grade flotation foam. In the early boats the foam was poured and there was better control. Our friend Howie worked at Alcort-AMF for 1960-1978 and he relates that around 1972 they switched over to a foam gun and after that some boats had expanding foam everywhere, excessive to the point that it could trap and absorb water. Wet foam weighs a lot, but skilled restoration folks can remove it and replace it with new 2 part foam. Save the blocks though, they are impossible to find.
The center block below will have a forward chunk removed to make space for the new aft storage cubby.
Storage area is still the same, 50 years later.
Looks like an old Stearns brand jacket, actually not a bad jacket with its slim design for the time. My Uncle had some that we used on our camping and fishing trips, comfortable to wear and they had a breezy mesh liner on the inside. We also like how AMF gave Alcort top billing on the stickers for a long time.
The big change in 1971 was the "new style" rudder system, it popped down and up more easily when launching and beaching and stayed down better while out sailing.
Do you think there is any chance that AMF copied George Patterson's patented pop up rudder design? It was used on Alcort's first catamaran, the
Catfish, introduced in 1965.
We own a Catfish and they are pretty cool. Heavy, but cool :) Her name is
SMEDLEY.
All of the claims below still hold true, whether your boat is made by Alcort, AMF, Pearson, Sunfish Laser Inc, Loveless and DeGarmo, Vanguard or Laser Performance. Still the most popular One Design Class and by far the most popular recreational sailboat ever made, with over 400,000 boats sailing around the world.
Sunfish. 68 years old and still going strong!
FMI:
