sunfish sailboat uk

• Sailing the Sunfish: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

The Sunfish sailboat, a name synonymous with accessibility, simplicity, and joy in the sailing world, has been cutting through waters around the globe with its distinctive lateen sail and flat, board-like hull. Born in the mid-20th century, its inception was driven by a desire to democratize sailing – an ambition that turned into a global phenomenon. The Sunfish’s straightforward design, characterized by its lightweight and easy-to-rig setup, revolutionized how sailboats were made and perceived. This evolution made sailing not just an elite sport but a leisure activity accessible to families and individuals alike.

The design and specifications of the Sunfish have always been about maximizing ease of use without compromising on performance. Its hull is designed for stability, while the lateen sail, a simple yet efficient sail setup, allows for easy control and adaptability to various wind conditions. This combination of design features ensures that the Sunfish sailboat is not only affordable but also a highly versatile craft, appealing to a broad spectrum of sailors from novices to seasoned enthusiasts.

Versatility, Community, and the Sailing Experience

The appeal of the Sunfish sailboat extends far beyond its technical specifications. Its versatility shines whether it's used for a leisurely sail on a local lake or competing in one of many Sunfish racing events held worldwide. This adaptability makes it an ideal choice for sailors of all levels, offering a gentle learning curve for beginners while still providing enough challenge for experienced sailors to enjoy.

The sense of community among Sunfish sailors is palpable. Across the globe, clubs and groups convene around their shared passion for Sunfish sailing, hosting regattas, and races that bring people together. This camaraderie fosters a welcoming environment, making it easy for newcomers to learn and for veterans to share their knowledge and stories. The community aspect of Sunfish sailing is a significant draw, reinforcing the idea that sailing is not just about the time spent on the water but also about the connections made along the way.

Read our top notch articles on topics such as sailing, sailing tips and destinations in our Magazine .

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Mastering sunfish sailing: techniques, maintenance, and more.

Sailing a Sunfish requires an understanding of wind and water, skills that are developed through practice and experience. For those new to the sport, mastering the Sunfish sailboat comes with a sense of achievement, as sailors learn to rig their boats, adjust their sails to the wind, and navigate through waters with confidence. These skills are not only practical but also enrich the sailing experience, making each outing a unique adventure.

Maintaining a Sunfish sailboat is straightforward, ensuring that it remains in top condition for years. Regular maintenance tasks such as inspecting the hull for damage, checking the rigging, and ensuring the sail is in good condition can significantly extend the lifespan of the boat. Additionally, understanding how to prepare the Sunfish for off-season storage is crucial, as proper care during this period can prevent damage and wear, ensuring that the boat is ready for the next sailing season.

Choosing and Customizing Your Sunfish Sailboat

For those looking to buy a new Sunfish sailboat, the market offers a variety of options. Prices vary based on new or used conditions, but affordability remains a key feature of the Sunfish, making it accessible to a wide range of budgets. Moreover, the Sunfish sailboat is highly customizable, allowing sailors to modify their boats to suit personal preferences and needs. Whether it’s upgrading the sail for better performance or adding comfort features for longer sails, the possibilities for personalization are vast, making each Sunfish uniquely tailored to its owner.

In conclusion, the Sunfish sailboat embodies the spirit of sailing – a blend of freedom, adventure, and community. Its simple design, affordability, and versatility have made it a beloved choice among sailors worldwide. Whether you’re embarking on your first sailing journey or looking to add a new chapter to your sailing adventures, the Sunfish offers a perfect platform to explore the waters. With each sail set and horizon chased, the Sunfish sailboat continues to be a symbol of joy and accessibility in the sailing community.

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Sunfish Sail Dinghy Reborn

• By Chad Gillis
• Updated: April 27, 2021

The Sunfish. For thousands of sailors around the world, it’s an iconic name that conjures memories of beautiful beaches, colorful sails, whipping winds and a freedom that only comes from such a simple small craft. Many sailors have centered their love for the sport on a Sunfish—at summer camps in the lakes of the Midwest, along coastal stretches of both American coasts, and on pretty much any stretch of water between. First offered as a DIY wood kit in the 1950s, the Sunfish has been a staple of the recreational sailing and racing scenes for decades as a relatively inexpensive one‑design dinghy.

The ubiquitous and ­colorful singlehander has stood the test of time, but today it is at a performance crossroads. Technology has long surpassed the boat’s one-design ­limitations, and new generations of sailors are now drawn to modern dinghy classes with better equipment. But what if the Sunfish were reimagined with modern blades and a more efficient sail? There are several movements afoot to do just that, with innovations driven by Sunfish fanatics taking development matters into their own hands.

Leading one charge in the sail-development department is Kevin Farrar, of Farrar Sails in New London, Connecticut. He’s now manufacturing a ­non-class-legal Sunfish sail, one that he says is much faster than the triangular rag of yesteryear. The boom is also shorter on this rig, yet the sail area is increased by about 8 square feet.

“It’s clearly a significant change,” Farrar says. He’s been working his version of the Sunfish sail for several years. “The concept is to make something that’s going to make the boat appeal to 16-year-olds out there. This is a modern design, and it really works.”

His sails are getting faster too, generation by generation, as he makes tweaks that have also made the classic boat appear more modern. “Off the wind, [the latest generation is] radically faster than even what we were making in the second generation of sails,” Farrar says. “[The boats] are planing much faster. I’m not sure if they’re planing upwind quite yet, but it has taken [the Sunfish] a step beyond what the Laser is.”

Them might be fighting words. The Laser has long been the standard singlehanded dinghy, and it’s one of the most popular racing classes on the planet, but Farrar hopes his sail will help breathe new life into Sunfish sailing, perhaps even draw a new generation to what seems to be a declining class.

“It’s the basic lateen rig except that the sail area is 83 square feet, and the top of the sail is parallel to the waterline. You’re getting a lot more of the sail up and in better air,” Farrar says. “The boom has been shortened to about 10 feet.”

All equipment used in official Sunfish-class racing must have been offered by the builder at some point in the boat’s life cycle. And while the Sunfish’s modern blades are a big step up from the wooden blades of the early days, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. And that’s where Kent Misegades comes into the story. At his AeroSouth facilities, in Seven Lakes, North Carolina, he’s stamping out some pretty slick-looking foils for his Sunfish. He has a vertical rudder that has minimal weather helm, even in stronger winds. The current class-approved rudder is notorious for having strong weather helm when the wind pipes above 15 knots. Misegades says his rudder is better and faster (especially upwind), and it costs about the same as the Sunfish-class-supplied rudder. “I understand the one-design concept,” he says. “It’s an even playing field, so it really does come down to a comparison of skills. I understand it, but that, of course, kills innovation, so there are two sides to it.”

Misegades said he isn’t yet targeting the class ­association or asking racers to adopt his new daggerboard and ­rudder designs. He knows that most Sunfish owners don’t race, but no good sailor would ever argue against better handling. “I knew from the outset that any change of rules for the class is pretty involved, for good reason,” he says, “so, I never went about trying to convince the class to adopt them. We’ve never really gone to class ­racing, but something that’s intrigued me is there’s been discussion of a new rudder, and it’s opened their eyes to potentially get gear from a third party.”

Misegades says his ­rudder dramatically improves the Sunfish’s notorious weather helm, but he had other goals in mind during the design process. “The weather helm wasn’t my primary goal; it was mainly to reduce drag to improve pointing and speed,” he says. “I went through a lot of different plans; hundreds of iterations happened.

“It all comes down to the angle of the rudder, and in all angles, this rudder really is superior,” Misegades ­continues. “But there is one drawback to this vertical rudder in that it doesn’t scull. The Sunfish ­rudder does do that well.”

Misegades’ rudder is also prone to stalling during a tack if the helmsperson is not careful. “This vertical narrow rudder will whip the boat around, but it’s not nearly as ­effective as the standard rudder,” Misegades says.

AeroSouth’s foils are ­comparable in price to what class builders offer today. The wood-and-carbon version of the daggerboard is $350, which is less than the official class boar. AeroSouth’s rudder is $300.

The International Sunfish Class Association is likely to be slow in adopting this new gear, however. Perhaps for good reason. Larry Suter, who has raced Sunfish in seven different decades, has been pushing the class to set the stock rudder to 90 degrees. Doing so would be at least one step forward, he says. “If you go out in a Sunfish in 14 or 15 knots of wind, and if you feel the pull on the tiller and the pull on the mainsheet, it’s the same force,” Suter explains. “[The 90-degree rudder angle] really makes the boat a nice boat to sail. It doesn’t have the weather helm, and you don’t have to fight it.”

Lynne Randall, Florida Peninsula region representative for the Sunfish Class, is familiar with the new sails and blades being developed outside the manufacturer’s specs, and she is cognizant that the class association can’t simply change equipment every time a new piece of gear comes to market.

“It’s a really strong one-design group around here, so you have to keep the boat [setup in a way that’s] approved by the class,” Randall says. “These changes are interesting and fun, and some people are trying them out, but as far as one-design racing goes, you can’t do it.”

Randall says that the new gear will require investigation, testing, adopting and tweaking before it gets anywhere near approval under the class regulations. Drawing new sailors to an old class is an exciting idea, but so too is retaining the sailors who make up the bulk of the racing fleet

“Of course we want to grow the class, and it’s one of those things that evolves,” Randall says. “But if you want to sail ­recreationally, there are ways to try different things.”

• More: print 2021 spring , Racing , Sailboats
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WQ= World Qualifier  I=Invitational  O=Open

CLICK HERE FOR MONTHLY REGATTA CALENDAR

CLICK HERE for regional series REGIONAL SERIES

• Saturday, September 14
• Hendershot’s Boat Launch, Swartswood Lake, NJ">2024 SANJL Swartswood Lake NJ; (O) Hendershot’s Boat Launch, Swartswood Lake, NJ
• Hampton Yacht Club, VA">Sunfish Challenge Dinghy Distance Race (O) Hampton Roads, VA
• Lafayette Sailing Club Brookston, IN"> Lafayette Saturday Series (O) Brookston, IN
• Devils Lake Yacht Club, 2097 Marsh Drive, Manitou Beach, MI">Bruce Goldsmith Memorial Regatta (O) Devils Lake YC Manitou Beach, MI
• Clark Lake Yacht Club, 1860 Eagle Point Rd, Clarklake, MI 49234">Clark Lake Fall Regatta (O) CLYC Clarklake, MI
• Pettipaug Yacht Club, Connecticut">Sunfish Series of CT (SSOC) Day 4 (O) Pettipaug Yacht Club, CT
• Ocean Gate, NJ">Ocean Gate YC Sunfish Regatta/Mid-Atlantic Regional #2 (WQ) Ocean Gate YC, NJ
• Sunday, September 15
• Hueston Woods State Park College Corner, OH">2024 Hueston Woods Sunday Race Series (O) Hueston Sailing Assoc., OH
• Amityville, NY ">Dinghy Shop Fall Series (O) Amityville, NY
• Westhampton Yacht Club Fall Series (O) WYC Remsenburg, NY
• Fairfield Harbour YC Sunfish Fall Series (O) FHYC, NC
• Lake Bluff Yacht Club">Lake Bluff Sunfish Series (O) Lake Bluff, MI

Welcome to the Sunfish Class Website!

Sunfish are incredibly popular single-handed sailboats. Raced and cruised in over 20 countries, this flexible, tunable rig makes it suited to a diverse range of sailors.Few classes have women, youth and masters regularly finishing in the top 10 (or winning!) national and World Championships.  Since the boat has changed little over the years, you don’t need a brand-new Sunfish to start racing. While new boats are reasonably priced, used boats are plentiful, and with perhaps a new sail you are ready to join the fun!

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• Sunfish Knowledge Base

Sunfish Specifications

• Author Bradley
• Creation date Sep 10, 2013

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Sky International

Laser Sunfish

The Sunfish is a sailing icon. One of sailings best-known brands, it is unmatched in simplicity and performance making it popular for all ages and abilities. Designed as the ultimate beach craft, this maintenance free boat holds its resale value thanks to its robust construction. Further highlighted by hard chines and a flat underbody. In addition, the Sunfish can be stored almost anywhere and is a snap to car-top. This makes it a popular international class and is also easy to transport to your favourite beach for family fun.

• Fibreglass hull
• Fibreglass foils
• Aluminium spars
• Class legal sail Lightweight hull
• Kick-up rudder system
• Self-bailing cockpit
• Storage compartment in the cockpit

Vago Race Extra Features

• Class legal race sail with window
• Ability to rig an outhaul, cunningham and also quick release gooseneck

Specifications

• Capacity: 1 – 2 People
• Length: 13.9FT/4.24M
• Beam: 4.1FT/1.25M
• Draft: 2.11FT/0.64M
• Sail Area: 81.38FT²/7.56M²
• Vago Race Sail Area: 75FT²/6.97M²
• Skill Level: Beginner – Expert
• Race Level: Club – International

The Laser Sunfish is available in a number of setup options, please go to the official site www.LaserPerformance.com to see the full range of options. We are also here to help too, feel free to get in touch and we can help with pricing and details, please call +852 2827 5876 or use our contact page .

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• Description

Laser Sunfish – The Ultimate Beach Craft

Race version.

The Sunfish Race is a box one design that provides equal performance for all boats – so it is not a better boat that wins the race, but the better sailor. One of sailing’s most recognized brands, The Sunfish Race combines simplicity and performance making it popular for racers who do not want to spend time working on their boats, but want to be out racing! Designed as the ultimate beach craft, this maintenance free boat holds its resale value thanks to its robust construction, highlighted by hard chines and a flat underbody. The Sunfish can be stored almost anywhere and is a snap to car-top, making it a popular International class and easy to transport to the hundreds of racing events held worldwide.

Sunfish Race Extra Features

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Laser Bahia

LaserPerformance Boats

Laser Standard – Race & XD

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SUNFISH OWNERS GROUP

Sunfish Enthusiasts, Day sailors to Racers

Sunfish Owners Group is formed for all those who seek the camaraderie of sailing, restoring, racing and owning the venerable Sunfish.  There is many sources of information relating to the Sunfish and this group supports ALL Sunfish owners.  Membership is free.

WELCOME TO SUNFISH OWNERS GROUP

For ALL Sunfish Enthusiasts

• Dec 12, 2020

How To Rig A Sunfish Sailboat

• Dec 11, 2020

Sunfish Sailor Reacts to SUNFISH SAILING TERROR Video

Sunfish Sailors try a Vanguard 15 Sailboat

WHAT’S NEW?

Here’s What’s Happening

The Sunfish Owners Group will help bridge the gap with ALL owners of Sunfish Sailboats. Our community can come together to explore recent news and past stories. Read on to see more about what’s been happening lately, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest updates.

RADICAL FS RUDDER

Oct. 7, 2020

A brand new vertical Rudder is being made specifically for the Sunfish.  It will need the "newer" gudgeon bracket (which has been on sunfish for probably 40 years).  The company claims it has less weather helm, weigh half as much, improve speed with less drag.

SUNFISH OWNERS GROUP WANTS YOU!

The Sunfish Owners Group's mission is to join ALL Sunfish Enthusiasts together.  To share information, photos, videos, tips, tricks and

GET IN TOUCH

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• Sailboat Guide

Sunfish is a 13 ′ 10 ″ / 4.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Alexander Bryan/Cortland Heyniger/Carl Meinart and built by AMF Corp., Alcort, Pearson Yachts, and LaserPerformance starting in 1952.

• 1 / 15 Manhattan Beach, CA, US Sunfish $650 USD View
• 2 / 15 Hudson, WI, US 2006 Sunfish $3,800 USD View
• 3 / 15 Slatington, PA, US 1985 Sunfish $2,200 USD View
• 4 / 15 Manhattan Beach, CA, US Sunfish $650 USD View
• 5 / 15 Slatington, PA, US 1985 Sunfish $2,200 USD View
• 6 / 15 Hudson, WI, US 2006 Sunfish $3,800 USD View
• 7 / 15 Slatington, PA, US 1985 Sunfish $2,200 USD View
• 8 / 15 Hudson, WI, US 2006 Sunfish $3,800 USD View
• 9 / 15 Hudson, WI, US 2006 Sunfish $3,800 USD View
• 10 / 15 Slatington, PA, US 1985 Sunfish $2,200 USD View
• 11 / 15 Hudson, WI, US 2006 Sunfish $3,800 USD View
• 12 / 15 Slatington, PA, US 1985 Sunfish $2,200 USD View
• 13 / 15 Hudson, WI, US 2006 Sunfish $3,800 USD View
• 14 / 15 Slatington, PA, US 1985 Sunfish $2,200 USD View
• 15 / 15 Hudson, WI, US 2006 Sunfish $3,800 USD View

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Although the earliest models were built of wood and offered as kits, the fiberglass version, first introduced in 1960, became the most popular recreational sailboat in history. As a result, there were many imitators.

Sunfish Builder Chronology 1952 - 1969 Alcort, Inc. (founded 1945) 1969 - 1986 AMF 1986 - 1988 Loveless & DeGarmo, dba, Alcort Sailboats Inc. 1988 - 1991 Pearson Yacht Co. 1991 - 1997 Sunfish/Laser, Inc. 1997 - 2007 Vanguard 2007 - Laser Performance Change in class rules permitted a new, slightly deeper daggerboard in the mid-1990’s.

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• Practical Boat Owner
• Digital edition

Half a million Sunfish dinghies sold: What is the secret to its success?

• September 2, 2021

Rupert Holmes explains the extraordinary appeal of the Sunfish, a crab-claw rigged sail board-style dinghy that rules the waves

Photo: Dennis Hallinan /Alamy

Today Britain is the world’s largest producer of sailing dinghies, but the story was different 50 to 60 years ago, when many countries produced huge numbers of small boats as sailing rapidly gained popularity across the developed world.

Connecticut-based Alex Bryan and Cortlandt Heyniger launched the 11ft 8in (3.5m) Sailfish – a beautifully simple, but narrow, board style sailing dinghy with a crab claw rig – in 1945.

Available as a fully-finished boat, a kit of parts, or built from plans, it proved massively popular and contributed in a huge way to the growth of sailing in North America.

Article continues below…

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Eight years later the duo updated the concept with a slightly larger design. The 13ft 9in (4.2m) Sunfish dinghy had proportionately far more beam which, allied to an almost flat V-shaped bottom and hard chine, conferred a lot more stability.

But the same attributes of easy sailing with minimal fuss and a lot of fun were retained. A fibreglass version was introduced in 1960 and class racing established by the end of that decade.

The concept proved hugely popular, with the result that the Sunfish dinghy has been the most popular sailing boat in the world by a big margin for some five decades.

By 2001 more than 300,000 boats had been launched and they continued to leave the factory at a rate of around 10,000 per year.

Most boats remained in the Americas, both north and south, as well as the Caribbean and they can be seen on most beaches and lakes. There are also established fleets in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Sunfish dinghy specification

LOA: 4.19m / 13ft 9in Beam: 1.24m / 4ft 1in Displacement: 54kg / 120lb Sail area: 7.0m2 / 75ft2 Current market value: £800-£1,800 / $1,100-$2,500

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Thumbnail Filmstrip of Sunfish Recreational Version Images

Sku: lpsf11000 sunfish recreational version.

• Description

Made by Laser Performance

The Sunfish sailboat combines easy rigging and manageability for a comfortable and hassle free sailing experience. This is the sailboat loved by all. Designed in 1952, the Sunfish is still a favorite with all ages.

With the easy to control and rig triangular lateen sail, the Sunfish is the easiest boat to access the joy of sailing. Find these small sailboats on lakes and bays all over the country in addition to racing fleets all over the world. The single-sail Sunfish is praised for it's simple to rig set up, while it's size and weight make it easy to car top or trailer. The Sunfish is built to last and provide years of worry free enjoyment with minimal maintenance required.

• Sunfish Recreational Sail w/ Window
• Recreational Spar Set
• Ratcheting Mainsheet Block
• Standard Line Pack
• Fiberglass Rudder
• Fiberglass Daggerboard
• Aluminum Tiller and Extension
• Ice Blue Sunfish Hull
• Draft: 2'11"
• Sail Area: 75 Square Feet
• Hull Weight: 120 lbs

Due to the size of this item, shipping will need to be quoted on a case by case basis. Please contact us directly at (631) 264-0005 for a shipping quote.

Is a Sunfish a Good Sailboat?

If you were to look up one of the most popular sailboats of all time, the Sunfish is right up there. But is a Sunfish a good sailboat?

There is a strong debate about whether or not the Sunfish is even worth your time sailing. So what made a Sunfish a popular sailboat?

The Sunfish has had a low price point and is easily portable for over fifty years. It is very easy to set up, has decent speed with the right wind, and allows you to beach it. It is great for beginners, but experienced sailors will love the simplicity of it.

As with all sailboats, there are definitely some negatives to owning a Sunfish. For example, the low freeboard means you are going to be extremely wet in just mild conditions. Since this is considered a dinghy, you will be responsible for every little movement that this sailboat is going to take.

According to experienced sailors, you have to find out what works best for you and your sailing goals. The Sunfish can either be a terrific experience for individuals that want a taste on the water or an annoyance if they are more experienced in sailing.

Table of contents

‍ Pros and Cons to a Sunfish Sailboat

There is a reason that the Sunfish is still popular after fifty years. The boat is designed for day sailing and to be active, so casual cruising is likely not going to happen too often.

With that being said, you should really count on being by yourself. The Sunfish was designed for one person handling the reins, so more than one person would make things difficult to near impossible.

• Easy to put together and sail
• Essentially only one of a few car-top sailboats out there
• Takes off fast with the right winds
• You can park it right on the beach
• Easy to find this boat and very affordable no matter the condition
• Only one or two people max can fit
• Three-foot draft means you are very close to the water, so prepare to be wet
• Not fast like other dinghies
• Can easily capsize, whether you are begin or not

Setting Up Your Sunfish

When putting together your Sunfish, it takes roughly 10 minutes until you are ready to hit the water. The mast does not require special rigging to put together since it is an unsupported one.

There are only a few car-top sailboats out there, meaning you can travel with this sailboat strapped to the top of your car. Since the boat is just under 14 feet and weighs about 120 pounds, it is easy to move wherever you see fit.

Once you have transported it, putting it together does not require special knowledge. If you watched someone else do it in person or online, you can have the method down with a few tries. The rigging does not require any fancy knots, so do not worry if you do not know how to tie a great knot.

Responsive Sailboat

The Sunfish is very responsive to wind changes, making it easy to get a feel for sailing. However, it is not as fast as other dinghies like a Laser .

This boat’s design is unique in that you must pay attention to how you are sitting and controlling the mast. This is not a boat to be having a casual conversation on, so being aware of what you are doing is necessary.

When conditions are somewhat calm, you do not want to tighten down the main sheet. Instead, you should have one hand on the sheet and one on the tiller while moving your weight side to side.

A gust of wind will greatly change your comfort if you are not prepared. If you are not careful, you can easily capsize the boat. Luckily, it can be easy to flip back over in shallow waters.

Finding a Sunfish

You can find a new Sunfish for just under $5,000, making it affordable to fit any budget. Furthermore, you can potentially find them significantly cheaper depending on the year and condition for just a few hundred dollars. Replacement parts can easily be found online if you find a Sunfish needing a few things.

The reason these boats are priced so low is that they fit one category of sailing, which is day sailing, and only allow for one individual to navigate. You are also going to get wet, no matter what you do.

Keep in mind that it is meant for sailors just getting their feet wet in sailing. If you have experience, then this is great, but it is meant to be a starter sailboat for most individuals.

Great Stability

The Sunfish has had some slight variations over the years to its look, but the design has ultimately been the same. Its rugged hull has stood up to the wear and tear amongst the harshest conditions, which is why you can find these same boats 20 or 30 years later and still see that they are in great condition.

These boats have stood the test of time and are even considered unsinkable. The hollow body, with its sleek fiberglass hull, makes it one of the more attractive dinghies out there.

You can rest assured that the stability will be there when you need it, as long as you have some sort of experience handling a dinghy in tougher waters. The daggerboard keel is a great advantage to righting the sailboat in the event that it does capsize, which is something that does happen to smaller boats or even racing ones.

Exciting Fun for a Day Out at Sea

Since the Sunfish is just under 14 feet long, this means there is limited space to have an additional companion while sailing. Even though it has a smaller cockpit some people might be able to fit two on board, but the boat’s design is geared towards one person.

This is perfect for individuals that want to have peace and quiet while sailing, but you will need to be engaged the entire time. There will be many aspects that you need to pay attention to, so this is really not meant for more than one person.

What is a Sunfish?

The Sunfish was designed to hit lakes or calmer bodies of water back in 1952. However, it quickly was used in sailing for those that were adventurous or able to handle the rougher conditions that the sea brings.

In 1995, this boat was regarded as one of the most popular fiberglass boats ever sold. At that time, they had sold roughly a quarter million worldwide and continue to sell tons to this day.

This boat is known for its stability, low draft, and easy to put together to have a great time sailing in a pinch. While there are some additional features that you can buy to upgrade the experience while sailing, this boat is great to learn the basics of sailing without spending a ton of money to do so.

No matter what your experience level is, the Sunfish can be learned within a day of simple trial and error. If you happen to be near an area that offers sailing lessons, this would be a good opportunity to learn the basics without worrying about larger sailboats to control.

An Excellent Choice to Learn the Basics

The Sunfish is an excellent option for sailors that want to stow away their boats or to take out on a nice day for the weekend. The appeal of taking it down and easily transporting it makes it a great option for many that want to experience the water.

In the right winds, this is an excellent boat to have some fun on the water. If you know the basics of sailing or want to experience it for the first time, the Sunfish is your best bet.

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Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Practical Sailor Reviews Seven Performance-Sailing Dinghies

Agile, fun boats like the classic sunfish and new hobie bravo keep the smile in summer sailing..

Photos by Ralph Naranjo

Messing around in small boats is a global theme-one thats embraced by pond-bound pram sailors, river riders, lake voyagers, and all of us who call salt water home. The purpose of this sailing dinghy profile is to highlight seven very interesting little sailboats. Some are new designs, and others have stood the test of time, but all are currently being manufactured, and each drives home just how much fun sailing close to the water can be.

This isn’t a shootout among anorexic speedsters or a report on the best tender that doubles as a sailing dinghy. Its a look at perennials like the Optimist, Sunfish, and Laser-legendary competitors that have helped spawn some of the best sailors in the world. But its also a look at three of the newest entries in the dinghy-sailing circle: Bics Open, Hobies Bravo, and Laser Performances Bug. These agile, new sailing dinghies are chock full of fun and boat-handling features to inspire kids of all ages to go sailing.

Well also take a look at Chesapeake Light Crafts kit approach to getting started-one that offers meaningful lessons and tangible rewards well before the boat ever hits the water.

Scale down an Open 60, add sail technology long favored by windsurfers, and put it into play in a tough thermo-formed hull, and you have the makings for a new kind of watercraft. The result is a very interesting blend of performance and reliability that targets adolescent interest. When all is said and done, Bics boat is more akin to a sit-down windsurfer than a traditional Blue Jay. And like all good boats, its vying for attention not just based on performance, construction quality, and style, but just as importantly, on the price tag stuck to the hull.

The Open Bics light weight and wide, flat stern section means that even small chop can be surfed; and bursts of planing on a reach add a zing factor to dinghy sailing. The Open Bic is already an International Sailing Federation (ISAF)-sanctioned class, and fleets are developing around the US. Another bonus: Its an easily portable boat that can be carried like a windsurfer, adding excitement to a Sunday picnic at the beach.

The thermo-formed polyethylene hull is a modified hard-chine design with lots of beam aft. Sailed flat, the boat is agile enough to surf wavelets, and with a shape thats ergonomically friendly to hiking, the ensuing heel on the upwind leg puts just the right amount of chine into the water. In light air, careful control of heel can significantly reduce wetted surface.

The design team that developed the Open Bic saw it as a transition bridge from Optimist sailing to a more performance-oriented dinghy. An interesting innovation is that the Open Bic can be sailed with an Optimists rig and blades. This buy the hull only approach can be a significant incentive for parents with children outgrowing their Opti as fast as their boat shoes. However it wont be long before the kids want the fully turbo-charged feel delivered with the Open Bics well-shaped 4.5-square-meters rig, sail, and nicely foiled blades.

Bottom line: The Open Bic is fast, agile, and buckets of fun for kids uninspired by sailing in the slow lane.

Just when you think that Hobie Cat Co. has covered whats possible in beach-cat innovation, their design/engineering crew comes up with a new twist that reinvents the wheel. The Hobie Bravo is a good case in point.

In a recent visit to Backyard Boats ( www.backyardboats.com ) in Annapolis, Md., we got a good look at the Bravo. Nearly as narrow as a monohull but still quite stable, this quick-to-launch beach cat packs plenty of get-up-and-go. Its a simple to sail, entry-level boat that fast tracks learning the steer, sheet, and hike trilogy. The boat features a single, midline rudder and roto-molded hulls. The shape of the hulls provides enough lateral plane to allow a crew to make headway to windward.

The narrow (4 feet), 12-foot Bravo uses crew weight and hiking straps to add to the righting moment once the breeze is up. Whats done with webbing on larger cats has been converted to a shallow, rigid deck well on the Bravo. It does raise the weight of the boat to 195 pounds, but it offers comfortable seating plus room for cushions and a cooler. Kids or grown ups can have a Tom Sawyer-Huck Finn type of adventure aboard this fun little sailing machine. Or the family on a beach picnic can set it up and take turns speed reaching along a sandy shoreline.

The furling mast supports a roachy sail with slightly slanted vertical battens, helping to shape the boomless mainsail. The result is convenient sail handling, decent performance, and superior safety. Theres no boom to clobber the crew, and the roller-furled sail and mast are easily stepped in the tripod-like receiver. This interesting set of struts raises the top bearing point of the mast step and spreads rig loads out to the hulls. The furling mainsail offers the ability to reef, a big plus in a building breeze or when teaching children to sail.

Like all of the boats in the Hobie lineup, theres a wide range of specialty parts and fittings that make the boats fast to rig and easy to handle. The kick-up rudder is hung on gudgeons mounted in the center of stern, and just as rig loads have been effectively spread via the tripod step, the energy radiating from the large rudder is spread athwartships via a contoured deck element.

Bottom line: The boat is quick to rig, easy to launch, and responsive to beginners-more experienced sailors will have just as much fun power reaching when the breeze is up.

A pocket-sized club trainer, the Bug is an evolution of the kids trainer/club racer that leverages lessons learned in Optis, Dyers, and Sabots. It pulls together the logic of a stable hull shape and simple-to-sail rig, and puts it all in a cost-effective package.

Lending to its success is designer Jo Richardss ergonomic, roto-molded hull, a fabrication that is as close to zero maintenance as a boat can get. The straight out-of-the-mold polyethylene skin gets a few decals, and theres no wood to refinish or gelcoat to wax. These tough, abrasion-resistant hulls have a bumper boat tolerance thats a big plus when it comes to kids learning to sail. Best of all, owners can start with a learn-to-sail rig and upgrade to a more performance-oriented mast and sail package (41 or 56 square feet) that kicks performance into the fast lane.

Oars and an outboard motor bracket can be added to turn the little sailboat into a dual-purpose dinghy. Even the bow painters means of attachment makes sense-no projecting hardware ready to knick the topsides of unintended contacts. Instead, theres a recessed hole in the stem allowing a line to be lead through and a knot used to keep the painter in place.

Bottom line: Aimed at club programs and families look for boats that can be transported on the car top, the Bug is easy to rig and definitely kid friendly. The fact that its manufacturer, Laser Performance, is an international interest and a major player in the performance dinghy industry means that this boat and its parts will be around for a while.

Photo courtesy of Hobie Cat Co.

Eastport Pram

Chesapeake Light Craft expedites boatbuilding for do-it-yourselfers looking to take their garage-built boats for a sail. The company pre-cuts parts, packs kits with all the materials, epoxy, and paint youll need, and leads homebuilders through a thoroughly detailed stitch-and-glue approach to assembly. Kits are available in various stages of completeness, ranging from plans only to the full package, including sail, hardware, running rigging, and paint.

The Eastport Pram is just shy of 8 feet, and the marine plywood and epoxy construction delivers a boat that weighs in, sans sailing rig, at just 62 pounds. Lighter than the comparatively sized Bug, this stiff, durable dinghy, rows like a real boat and sails comfortably with one or two aboard. In keeping with other good tender attributes, the Pram behaves under tow and is equally amicable when propelled by a small outboard or tacked up an estuary under sail.

Kit boatbuilding continues to have a niche following. Theres also an added-value feature worth noting: On one hand, the builder receives a box of pieces and the result of his or her endeavor leads to an aesthetic and utilitarian dinghy. In addition, the DIY skills the builder develops will be useful in other epoxy bonding, brightwork, or mono-urethane application projects. Such talents will benefit many other boat maintenance endeavors.

Whats hard to quantify is the sense of accomplishment derived from sailing a boat that you have built yourself. When the project is tackled in tandem with a child, spouse, or friend, the memories and the boat will last.

Bottom line: With neither sidedecks or a sealed hull, this is not a boat thats easy to recover from a capsize. So once the kids favor on-the-edge sailing in a building breeze, a non swamping, easier-righting boat is probably a better option. The Pram can then be put to use by their appreciative parents or grandparents.

Never in their wildest dreams did Bruce Kirby and Ian Bruce imagine that the Weekender (the Lasers original name) was destined to become an Olympic class sailboat and one of the most popular springboards for top-tier sailors in the world today. Originally envisioned as a car-topper for weekend campers, the cat-rigged, low freeboard sailing dinghy morphed from its original roots into a boat favored by college competitors and revered by generations of agile sailors of all ages. Even frostbiting winter sailors have locked onto the Laser.

Designed in 1969, the Lasers first few years were anything but smooth sailing. Popularity grew quickly, but along with the limelight came plenty of consternation. Dubbed a surfboard not a sailboat by a growing cross-section of the yachting elite-many parents warned junior sailors to steer as clear of Lasers as they did sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. The campaign failed, and junior sailors in yacht club programs around the country fell into the grip of the new one-design dinghy-discovering the sailboats proclivity to plane.

Dyer Dhows languished in boat sheds across the country as a new theme in sailing took hold. Dubbed fast is fun by sailor/engineer Bill Lee, the young Merlin of Santa Cruz, Calif., took the theme to big-boat sailing, merging California culture with the Laser logic of light displacement and planing hull shapes.

Best of all, the Laser embraced the ideal of a tightly controlled one-design class that put people on the water in identical boats and left winning and losing races up to sailing skill and tactics rather than a boats performance edge. For decades, the boat has been the single-handed sailors choice among junior sailing programs, and with the addition of the Radial, 4.7 and M rigs, smaller competitors have also found the boat to be a great sailing platform. Today, theres some lawyer saber-rattling over the sale of the design rights, but the boat remains more popular than ever.

The sleeved sail, two-part spar, daggerboard, and kick-up rudder make the boat a quick-to-rig and fast-to-get underway dinghy. Light-air efficiency is good for a one-design sailboat, but this means that as the breeze builds, the non-reefable sail can become a handful in a hurry. In fact, the boats Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr. Hyde demeanor is what builds talent among Laser practitioners. The big boys block the mainsail and blast off for the layline, while lighter sailors heavy-weather tactics include more nuanced de-powering and feathering. In light air, the tables turn, and the winner is often the sailor who planes quickest on the reaches. The old guards surfboard slam may have held some credence after all.

Bottom line: The Laser is a timeless classic thats easily transported and is built for performance. Its well suited to adrenaline-seeking teens as well as the more fit adult crowd.

Designed in 1947 by Floridian Clark Mills, the utilitarian Optimist could be made out of two sheets of plywood-and from its inception, the Optimist was meant to link kids with the water. Slipping into obscurity in the U.S., the little pram found fertile ground to grow in northern Europe. With just a few tweaks, the Scandinavians took Millss lines and parlayed them into whats become the favored junior sailing trainer for kids from Detroit to Timbuktu. Statistics show that there are about 30 builders worldwide putting out approximately 4,000 boats each year. With about 130,000 boats class registered and an estimated 300,000 total hulls built (amateur and pro), theres plenty of reasons to get excited about an Opti.

The example weve chosen is the USA-built McLaughlin boat, both a demonstration of high-quality FRP construction and modern manufacturing techniques. Its also a boat that can be purchased in a range of performance-inducing iterations-upgrades designated as club, intermediate, advanced, and professional versions. Like all performance sailboats, stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio is important. But class rules include a minimum weight, so the most competitive hulls meet the mandatory lower limit but use good engineering and building technique to reinforce the daggerboard slot and mast step and produce overall stiffness.

The low mast height and high aspect ratio sprit sail is very versatile, affording young (and small, 65 to 130 pounds) sailors a wide window of decent performance. The flat bottom, slab-sided hull is responsive to crew weight-driven trim changes, and the better the sailor, the more agile they become. Light-air performance is all about minimizing wetted surface and maximizing sail area projection. When the breeze starts to kick up, the sailor becomes the ballast, and the art of hiking, sheet handling, and tiller wiggling come into play.

Under careful adult supervision, two 6- to 8-year-olds can double-hand the friendly little dinghy, or one more-confident child can solo sail it. In fact, introducing kids to sailing with similar proportioned small prams has been a right of passage around for decades. A set of oarlock gudgeons can turn the pram into a functional dinghy thats also adaptable to the smaller Torqeedo outboard (www.torqeedo.com).

McLaughlin also markets a Roto-molded polyethylene version of the Opti and sells DIY kits for those who want to create their own wood version.

Bottom line: The Opti is like a first bicycle without the need for training wheels. The fact that at the last Olympics, over 80 percent of the winning sailors had gotten their start in an Optimist speaks well to the value of messing around in this particular dinghy.

Designed in 1951 by ice boaters Alexander Bryan and Cortland Heyniger, the hard chine Sunfish was the prototype board boat. In 1959, it made the transition into fiberglass, and over the following half-century, more than a quarter-million hulls would hit the water. Simplicity and decent sailing attributes combined with an attractive price to make the Sunfish the most popular one-design dinghy ever raced.

Far more than a platform for racers, these boats are an excellent training tool for sailors of all ages. Also built by Laser Performance, they reflect the fun of summer and put sailors in close contact with the water on which they sail. Its no surprise that the larger fleets coincide with warm water and many see going for a swim to be part and parcel of the low-freeboard experience.

The lateen rig is in keeping with the overall design concept and simplifies rigging. A short stub of a mast is stepped and a single halyard hoists the sail along with tilting V-shaped upper and lower booms.

The total sail area is nearly the same as the Laser, but the halyard hoist versatility of the lateen rig make it a handy beach boat and a little less daunting when the wind begins to build. The clean sail shape on one tack and deformation caused by the mast on the other tack are a slight drawback. The Laser rig is more efficient, but when caught out in a squall, its nice to be able to ease the halyard and dump the sail. Its also handy to be able to leave the boat tethered to a mooring, and the doused sail and short mast make it possible.

Multiple generations of sailors are often found sailing Sunfish, and the boat represents one of the best bargains to be found in the used boat market. When considering a pre owned boat, the potential buyer needs to take a close look at the daggerboard-to-hull junction and mast step, points where previous damage can create hard-to-fix leaks.

Bottom line: The Sunfish is a great beach boat that can turn a hot afternoon into a fun-filled water experience.

There were no losers in this group, and picking winners and runners-up proved a difficult task. The outcome had to be based on assumptions about how these boats would be used. For example, parents with a competitive 9-year-old who swims like a fish, always sprints for the head of the lunch line, and likes to steal bases in Little League probably have an Opti racer in the making. Less competitive junior sailors-future cruisers in the making-will do better learning aboard a Bug. Many newly formed sailing clubs target the boat as their trainer of choice.

The Bravo holds plenty of appeal for those with a lakeside cottage or a favored campground destination. Whether its a solo sail just before sunset or a fun race on Sunday, the quick to set up and put away features are a plus, and for those who feel that two hulls are better-the Bravo will hold plenty of appeal.

Serious competitors can campaign a Laser for life, and whether youre headed for a local district regatta or getting ready for the Olympic trials, the hull, rig, and sail remains identical-sort of like the Monaco Grand Prix being raced in a street legal Mustang.

Bic Opens new little speedster tickled our fancy, and as a trainer/performance boat crossover, it drew a strong nod of approval. Watching the junior sailors smiles as they sailed their Open Bics endorsed our opinion.

And if there is any boat that defines the essence of summer, the Sunfish takes the prize.

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Beam:  4'    Draft:  3'     Beam:  4.5'    Draft:  1'     Beam:  4'     Beam:  4'    Draft:  1' © 2001-2024 ./)   . . ./)   . . Your shopping cart is empty! Sunfish Sailboat Configuration --> Your Sunfish will come custom packaged in a box designed to keep it safe in transit. Because the Sunfish sailboat is oversized we currently quote the delivery of each Sunfish on an individual basis. Once you place your order we will contact you to give you details about delivery time. Shipping costs WILL exceed the shipping amount shown in your cart and your order confirmation. Because of the oversized nature of this product, the customer is fully responsible for any shipping costs related to returns as well as a restocking/packaging fee if you choose not to keep your new boat. Using this tool, you will be getting a complete sailboat with all necessary parts, ready to sail after minor assembly. Class Legal Sails -->   Recreational Sails --> --> Keep your new Sunfish in great shape with a custom fitted deck cover: Protect the underside of your Sunfish with a custom fitted hull cover: Easily lift and store your Sunfish overhead using a system: 160 IMAGES Sunfish Sailboat 2 Person Laser Sunfish Sunfish Sunfish Sunfish How Much Does a Sunfish Sailboat Cost? All You Need to Know VIDEO Get ready to Sunfish Sailboat Sail! Sunfish sailboat sailing Sunfish sailboat ⛵️ edit Sunfish Sailboat Parts Breakdown Sailing Sunfish Sunfish sailing on Lake Ontario COMMENTS Sunfish The Sunfish combines easy rigging and manageability for a comfortable and hassle-free sailing experience. This is the sailboat loved by all. Designed in 1952 as the ultimate beach craft, the Sunfish sailboat is still a favourite with all ages. This maintenance free boat holds its resale value thanks to its robust construction, highlighted by hard chines and a flat underbody. Sailing the Sunfish The Sunfish sailboat, a name synonymous with accessibility, simplicity, and joy in the sailing world, has been cutting through waters around the globe with its distinctive lateen sail and flat, board-like hull. Born in the mid-20th century, its inception was driven by a desire to democratize sailing - an ambition that turned into a global ... Worldwide supplier of Sunfish boats, parts, & accessories AeroSouth, Sunfish Mainsheet Hanger Clip (Set of 3, White), SNF-MNS-HNG-CLP-W. Set of three Sunfish mainsheet hanger clips. Made of durable PETG plastic. Fitted for the 1.5" diam.. $25.00. Sunfish Direct offers a complete line of sunfish hardware, parts and supplies for the sunfish enthusiasts. One source for all of your sunfish parts and sales. PDF sunfish sunfishMost popular sailboat eve. specs. m13.90Designed in 1952, the Sunfish is a miracle of simplicity and f. nction. The sail plan requires just two lines andthe boat can be set up and sailing in. inutes. The patented kick-up rudder system allows for easier shallow water launching and re. rieval. The Sunfish hull is light weight, car toppable ... Homepage LaserPerformance proudly makes many sailboats including: Laser, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, Sunfish, Laser Pico, Laser Bahia, Laser Vago, Bug, Club FJ, Club 420, 420 ... Sunfish Sail Dinghy Reborn Sunfish Sail Dinghy Reborn. A few Sunfish stalwarts set out to modernize the original lateen-like sail. The result is good. Sailmaker Kevin Farrar puts the finishing touches on one of his new ... Sunfish Class Association Welcome to the Sunfish Class Website! Sunfish are incredibly popular single-handed sailboats. Raced and cruised in over 20 countries, this flexible, tunable rig makes it suited to a diverse range of sailors.Few classes have women, youth and masters regularly finishing in the top 10 (or winning!) national and World Championships. Since the boat ... LaserPerformance LaserPerformance is an Anglo-American dinghy manufacturer. LaserPerformance manufactures many sailboats including: Laser, Sunfish, Bug, Laser Vago, Laser Bahia, Club FJ, Club 420, Z420, Vanguard 15, Dart 16, Funboat and Optimists. [1]They are most well known for the Sunfish and The Laser - a single handed boat which is sailed in the Summer Olympic Games. [2] Sunfish Sailboat Parts & Accessories Sunfish Hull & Deck Parts West Coast Sailing is your source for hull and deck fittings for your Sunfish sailboat. Check out our selection of bailers, drain plugs, hiking straps, inspection ports, bridles, gudgeons, bow handles, and more. Sunfish Covers Protect your Sunfish with a proper Sunfish cover, blade bag, or spar bag. Sunfish Specifications Sunfish Specifications. The Sunfish is a one-design sailing dinghy which can be sailed with one or two person (s) but is most often sailed singlehanded. At 13 feet 9 inches (4.2 m) in length and 130 lb (59 kg) in weight, the Sunfish is easily carried in a luggage rack or a light trailer. The Sunfish is used as a day sailer or a racing boat ... Laser Sunfish Laser Sunfish - The Ultimate Beach Craft. The Sunfish is a sailing icon. One of sailings best-known brands, it is unmatched in simplicity and performance making it popular for all ages and abilities. Designed as the ultimate beach craft, this maintenance free boat holds its resale value thanks to its robust construction. Home Sunfish Owners Group is formed for all those who seek the camaraderie of sailing, restoring, racing and owning the venerable Sunfish. ... WELCOME TO SUNFISH OWNERS GROUP. For ALL Sunfish Enthusiasts Dec 12, 2020; 1 min; How To Rig A Sunfish Sailboat. 117. 0. Post not marked as liked. Dec 11, 2020; 1 min; Sunfish Sailor Reacts to SUNFISH SAILING ... Sunfish Sailboat Marketplace Sunfish Sailboat Marketplace. Public group. ·. 15.6K members. Join group. Sunfish Sailing Class buy, sell, and trade group! List only sunfish sailboat and related items for sale. Sunfish Sunfish is a 13′ 10″ / 4.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Alexander Bryan/Cortland Heyniger/Carl Meinart and built by AMF Corp., Alcort, Pearson Yachts, and LaserPerformance starting in 1952. ... 1991 - 1997 Sunfish/Laser, Inc. 1997 - 2007 Vanguard 2007 - Laser Performance Change in class rules permitted a new, slightly deeper daggerboard ... Sunfish (sailboat) The Sunfish is a personal-size, beach-launched sailing dinghy.It features a very flat, boardlike hull carrying an Oceanic lateen sail mounted to an un-stayed mast.. Sunfish was developed by Alcort, Inc. and first appeared around 1952 as the "next generation" improvement on their original boat, the Sailfish.In contrast, the Sunfish has a wider beam for more stability, increased freeboard and ... Half a million Sunfish dinghies sold: What is ... Half a million Sunfish dinghies sold: What is the secret to its success? Rupert Holmes explains the extraordinary appeal of the Sunfish, a crab-claw rigged sail board-style dinghy that rules the waves. Today Britain is the world's largest producer of sailing dinghies, but the story was different 50 to 60 years ago, when many countries ... Sunfish Recreational by Laser Performance The Sunfish sailboat combines easy rigging and manageability for a comfortable and hassle free sailing experience. This is the sailboat loved by all. Designed in 1952, the Sunfish is still a favorite with all ages. With the easy to control and rig triangular lateen sail, the Sunfish is the easiest boat to access the joy of sailing. Is a Sunfish a Good Sailboat? The Sunfish has had a low price point and is easily portable for over fifty years. It is very easy to set up, has decent speed with the right wind, and allows you to beach it. It is great for beginners, but experienced sailors will love the simplicity of it. As with all sailboats, there are definitely some negatives to owning a Sunfish. SUNFISH Sunfish Builder Chronology. 1952 - 1969 Alcort, Inc. (founded 1945) 1969 - 1986 AMF. 1986 - 1988 Loveless & DeGarmo, dba, Alcort Sailboats Inc. 1988 - 1991 Pearson Yacht Co. 1991 - 1997 Sunfish/Laser, Inc. 1997 - 2007 Vanguard. 2007 - Laser Performance. Change in class rules permitted a new, slightly deeper daggerboard in the mid-1990's. Practical Sailor Reviews Seven Performance-Sailing Dinghies Designed in 1951 by ice boaters Alexander Bryan and Cortland Heyniger, the hard chine Sunfish was the prototype board boat. In 1959, it made the transition into fiberglass, and over the following half-century, more than a quarter-million hulls would hit the water. Simplicity and decent sailing attributes combined with an attractive price to ... SunFish sailboats for sale by owner. SunFish preowned sailboats for sale by owner. SunFish used sailboats for sale by owner. Sunfish Sailboat Configuration Because the Sunfish sailboat is oversized we currently quote the delivery of each Sunfish on an individual basis. Once you place your order we will contact you to give you details about delivery time. Shipping costs WILL exceed the shipping amount shown in your cart and your order confirmation. Because of the oversized nature of this product ... catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht