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.

1965 Alcort Sunfish WAVE 24 Nov 20 Restoration Begins

24 Nov 20: 

We had reattached the starboard bow block in the Spring...sigh....now the port bow warrants attention. Mast tube is in good shape though.

Flex tape maybe?

Starboard block stayed attached! Well, most of it.

Skipper decreed today that we'll retain the side piece, along with the stealth Hawaii registration numbers.

The fiberglass loop was used at the factory to pop the hull out of the mold.

Woven roving is a little unwoven...

We think we can salvage the deck in this area, put a backer strip underneath to reshape it.

Hoisted WAVE off of the finishing dolly and removed a strongback that we had attached for use in our catboat build. Catboat build is delayed.

Bow section will be reattached! The pink duct tape may or may not be permanent.

1982 AMF Sunfish hanging out with WAVE in the Carriage House. She took similar abuse from the 6x6 posts in the Sunfish Shack. Catboat parts stacked to the side.

Pier planked, 137' of 250' complete.

Log of WAVE.

Log of PHOENIX.

 

Sunfish MADISON and PHOENIX 11 Jul 20 Regatta

11 Jul 20:

Air Temp 84F, Dewpoint 80F. Water Temp 78F. Winds NNW 10-13. Light swell.

Peeked outside this morning to check the status of the Saharan dust and Heat Warning. Nice wind from the NNW and it wasn't a sauna yet, so we launched our Sunfish PHOENIX and MADISON. Skipper launched first in PHOENIX and I followed. 2 boats out, so a race ensued.

Video: https://youtu.be/x3L3Bu81mys



Results: Skipper won, I DNFd but got back to the shade first.

Sunfish Palooza

04 Jun 18:

WAVE and MADISON were up next on the Marine Traffic Control Board, nice light wind morning and a good time for some spring cleaning. We launched and drifted around for a bit.

1965 Alcort Sunfish WAVE with Skipper on the helm. The Riviera sail is our favorite color combo.

Nice breeze for ghosting.

We had fun sailing and when we got back WAVE and MADISON got a fresh water rinse down. While they were rigged we decided to work on another project, which was to get WAVE, MADISON and PHOENIX set up with their spars and blades and mark them so we know which set goes with each boat, each time, as they are set up just a bit different. The sails are easy, they match the boat, this will also help us figure out how many extra daggerboards and rudders we have, designate a spare set and use the others on restoration boats. So we rigged PHOENIX for the party.

We got all the parts sorted and then color coded the tips of the blades for each boat with a little shot of Rustoleum. We taped the line with blue painters tape, and added a couple of wraps to contain overspray, then shot on 4 coats.

Skipper sent me aloft to get a glamor shot. We really enjoy how easy the Sunfish is to maintain, store and sail, a classic since 1953.

1982 AMF Sunfish PHOENIX 28 Apr 18 Sea Trials

28 Apr 18:

1982 AMF Sunfish PHOENIX out for sea trials after repairs to leaks in the daggerboard trunk, bailer hole seam, chine and coaming. She sailed great and Skipper did a few donuts. No leaks!

Log of PHOENIX.

1982 AMF Sunfish PHOENIX 22 Feb 18 Leak Test and Deck Repair

22 Feb 18:

Phoenix needed a little TLC, she had a few leaks and we did an air leak test to figure out where the trouble spots are. We found several, the 2 big culprits being in the bailer hole seam and the daggerboard trunk. The funniest was Mt Vesuvius blowing out the rivet hole in the coaming.





We sealed up those areas with Pettit Flexpoxy, and we also put Marine-Tex epoxy putty over several areas where gelcoat had chipped.

We also sanded the coaming in prep for paint and installed the aluminum cockpit trim that our buddy Alan sent us.

Log of PHOENIX.