My metal plate puts my Sunfish hull at 1969. I've upgraded everything else. That main sheet hook in the cockpit I hit my knees on...its still there. Thanks for the video Lee. Your channel is great!
Ours is 1969. My Father in Law and I bought it for m future wife as a college graduation present. We used it on a lake for a number of years but then - it has languished for a long time. I have cleaned up the hull and we got a new used sail and hope to introduce sailing to our visiting grandkids this July. Now we have to register it ( did not have to when we were sailing) and need to produce a Bill of Sale. I guess I will have to get creative. Your videos have been an inspiration for me. Thank you,
Thank you so much. I went to register my boats at the LA W&F and they told me the serial number was not a good number. You explained it so well. My son and I enjoy watching your videos.
Thank you snd good luck… maybe the information of them not having hull ID -VIN numbers will help get the boat registered? Maybe it will or can be registered as a “classic” boat?
I just bought and old "Sunfish" as fix up project. (Restoring old sailboats is a hobby of mine). No HIN, just a metal plate on the dash that says SER. 000026. No other writing. No doubt a clone of some sort, and probably pre 1970's by the lack of proper HIN, but all the hardware matches a true Sunfish, and the rudder and dagger board are beautiful wood and in great shape. Sanded off 4 coats of paint and the hull is rock solid! Can't wait to have this thing looking brand new! Thanks for all your videos. I enjoy watching and have already caught a pointer or two that will be helpful.
Thanks for this info Lee. I had an older Sunfish that did not have either a placard up forward, or the cockpit, nor did I have a transom HIN. However, it had the new style rudder (not retrofitted) and the aft cockpit cuddy. So I was pretty sure it was a '72 model. Now I'm looking to get another Sunfish. My current boat is a '89 Capri 14.2 and it's a great boat but just too much work to rig and derig every time I go sailing. Plus, where I live I have to trailer launch it. With a Sunfish I can car top and dolly launch off the grass, and rigging will be a 5-minute affair, versus about 30 minutes for the Capri.
Quick question. What year did they eliminate the aluminum rail? I have heard that around 2000- 2007 were good years. What would you advise? I am looking for a boat now.
Depending on what you want to do… if you want to race very competitively then get a light stiff boat. And good rig and good blades and sail. If you want to sail recreationally then dry boat, new as possible and stiff bottom. 2000-2007 boats are good and old enough to be less expensive. But if they are beat up compared ti a pristine mid 1980s boat…. Then the 1985 boat may be actually better!
Thank you for your video! I now know that I will be attempting to restore a very old sunfish. If you have any advice or can suggest good resources, I would appreciate it! Also, I cannot find a replacement coaming. Thanks for any help you can offer? 😊
I have not sailed it…. However, I believe it will be a good boat…. The phantom hull bottom moulds were used to make them. The people who have bought them so far like them.
@@LeeSideSailing Thank u.... interesting. Wish they may build a "big boy" version, like the old phantom, to properly carry two large adults, but light construction and big cockpit like the rocket.
Thanks for this video.This is really good information! I'm starting to narrow down the year of the Sunfish we just picked up and will be restoring. Based on the video I'm not able to get all the way there... It is a yellow deck with orange slanted stripes and orange trim pieces, white hull, metal band around the edges, no HIN on the back, there is a plate by the mast but no number on it. Just says AMF Sunfish, AMF Incorporated, Alcort Division. It has the aft storage area. Wood daggerboard and rudder. Based on video I'm thinking 1970, 1971 or 1972. Is there any way I can zero in further? Want to name the boat something based on popular song from the right year so I'm trying to get exact.
Lee, my 'new' Sunfish is white with orange stripes outlined in brown on both fore and after decks; the serial is AMF 87042 M8 01 - please decode! Is this August 2001?? Thanks! John
Hi John, The aMF is the manufacturer, the M means they used the Model year (vs Straight Year). And the following two digits is the Model Year… in your case 1980, the last character is actually a letter which corresponds to a month. In your case the letter is an I, which goes with April. I explained this in the video at the 8:00 mark…. Tha ks for the question!!
I can never figure mine out because it has no cubby, no serial plate and a hinged rudder system that nobody has ever seen before. It’s a mystery! I figure it’s pre 1970 .
My metal plate puts my Sunfish hull at 1969. I've upgraded everything else. That main sheet hook in the cockpit I hit my knees on...its still there. Thanks for the video Lee. Your channel is great!
Thanks!!! Watch that hook!
Ours is 1969. My Father in Law and I bought it for m future wife as a college graduation present. We used it on a lake for a number of years but then - it has languished for a long time. I have cleaned up the hull and we got a new used sail and hope to introduce sailing to our visiting grandkids this July. Now we have to register it ( did not have to when we were sailing) and need to produce a Bill of Sale. I guess I will have to get creative. Your videos have been an inspiration for me. Thank you,
That is excellent. I’m sure your grandkids will have a priceless experience. And in my experience bills of sale get found when no one‘s looking.;)
you are the einstein of the sunfish world. thank you so much for your work and passion.
Thank you for the nice comment :)
Thank you so much. I went to register my boats at the LA W&F and they told me the serial number was not a good number. You explained it so well. My son and I enjoy watching your videos.
Thank you snd good luck… maybe the information of them not having hull ID -VIN numbers will help get the boat registered? Maybe it will or can be registered as a “classic” boat?
I just bought and old "Sunfish" as fix up project. (Restoring old sailboats is a hobby of mine). No HIN, just a metal plate on the dash that says SER. 000026. No other writing. No doubt a clone of some sort, and probably pre 1970's by the lack of proper HIN, but all the hardware matches a true Sunfish, and the rudder and dagger board are beautiful wood and in great shape. Sanded off 4 coats of paint and the hull is rock solid! Can't wait to have this thing looking brand new! Thanks for all your videos. I enjoy watching and have already caught a pointer or two that will be helpful.
Excellent Paul! Good luck with the new boat!
Thanks for this info Lee. I had an older Sunfish that did not have either a placard up forward, or the cockpit, nor did I have a transom HIN. However, it had the new style rudder (not retrofitted) and the aft cockpit cuddy. So I was pretty sure it was a '72 model.
Now I'm looking to get another Sunfish. My current boat is a '89 Capri 14.2 and it's a great boat but just too much work to rig and derig every time I go sailing. Plus, where I live I have to trailer launch it. With a Sunfish I can car top and dolly launch off the grass, and rigging will be a 5-minute affair, versus about 30 minutes for the Capri.
Simple boats means lots of fun!!
mine is a 67 since I remember my father getting it for us as a Christmas present.
Thays a great present.
Is this the same procedure for minifish?
Im not sure.
I’ve picked up boats (5) in Waterbury before, 1973.
Good luck them!
What about ones with metal rails cubby cabins and old style rudder with aluminum tiller?
I think that is about a1970, off the top of my head…. But the video has all the numbers and specs
@@LeeSideSailing we figured it out july of 73, this week it will be 51 years old
Quick question. What year did they eliminate the aluminum rail? I have heard that around 2000- 2007 were good years. What would you advise? I am looking for a boat now.
They eliminated the rail 1987.
Depending on what you want to do… if you want to race very competitively then get a light stiff boat. And good rig and good blades and sail.
If you want to sail recreationally then dry boat, new as possible and stiff bottom. 2000-2007 boats are good and old enough to be less expensive. But if they are beat up compared ti a pristine mid 1980s boat…. Then the 1985 boat may be actually better!
Thank you for your video! I now know that I will be attempting to restore a very old sunfish. If you have any advice or can suggest good resources, I would appreciate it! Also, I cannot find a replacement coaming. Thanks for any help you can offer? 😊
Any thoughts on the new " Rocket" version of the sunfish? Tx!
I have not sailed it…. However, I believe it will be a good boat…. The phantom hull bottom moulds were used to make them. The people who have bought them so far like them.
@@LeeSideSailing Thank u.... interesting. Wish they may build a "big boy" version, like the old phantom, to properly carry two large adults, but light construction and big cockpit like the rocket.
Hey Lee, my sunfish says DSA 031M85B, i understand that is from february 1985 but what is DSA? Thanks from Uruguay
Let me get back to you…. Thanks tfor yhe question…
Thanks for this video.This is really good information! I'm starting to narrow down the year of the Sunfish we just picked up and will be restoring. Based on the video I'm not able to get all the way there... It is a yellow deck with orange slanted stripes and orange trim pieces, white hull, metal band around the edges, no HIN on the back, there is a plate by the mast but no number on it. Just says AMF Sunfish, AMF Incorporated, Alcort Division. It has the aft storage area. Wood daggerboard and rudder. Based on video I'm thinking 1970, 1971 or 1972. Is there any way I can zero in further? Want to name the boat something based on popular song from the right year so I'm trying to get exact.
Let me get back to you. I know people who have that boat
I asked my friend Chris Williams, who invented the Williams Windicator- featued in ine if my videos…. He is confident it is a 1973. Thanks!
Truly appreciate it. I'm enjoying your videos. They are going to help a lot. I just subscribed too. Thank you very much for the info.@@LeeSideSailing
Lee, my 'new' Sunfish is white with orange stripes outlined in brown on both fore and after decks; the serial is AMF 87042 M8 01 - please decode! Is this August 2001?? Thanks! John
Hi John, The aMF is the manufacturer, the M means they used the Model year (vs Straight Year). And the following two digits is the Model Year… in your case 1980, the last character is actually a letter which corresponds to a month. In your case the letter is an I, which goes with April. I explained this in the video at the 8:00 mark…. Tha ks for the question!!
@@LeeSideSailing Thanks much!
Thanks for the info! Great video, as always. Pretty sure we have a "Gen-X" but can I ask what the "Sunfish/laser" sticker is?
Its basically a logo from the off shoot of Pearson Yachts- called Sunfish/laser. Just another change in the evolution-.
Correction. My Sunfish came from the factory in 1971. It had the pop-up rudder bracket.
Good info! But Happy Days was 1962, not '52
Ha!! Great catch. Thanks for the comment!
Serial number 61702. Can’t find the chart.
Its at the end of the video :)
Is the serial number your sail number on a baby boomer sunfish?
No. Different numbers. For a sail number contact sunfishclass.org
I can never figure mine out because it has no cubby, no serial plate and a hinged rudder system that nobody has ever seen before. It’s a mystery! I figure it’s pre 1970 .
Is it a Sunfish? But its definitely pre-1971. Some plates have been removed by their owners.
if you sailed one of those wooden sailfish you probably need help getting out of your sail boat. and its probably still floating