New old boats !

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

I just came into possession of two sailboats, a 1980's 11' Snark Sunflower 3.3 and a 1970's 14' Pargo Scorpion (Sunfish clone). And the best part is, both boats were FREE! I have some fiberglass hull damage to repair on the Scorpion, but both boatshave good masts, spars, sails, sheetlines and halyards. These are single person day sailor boats. I haven't sailed since my Academy days sailing Rainbow 24's on Long Island Sound in New York. These new boats will see local lakes like Lake Pepin and Lake Superior.

The Scorpion needs a proper trailer. It's heavy, but a faster boat than the Sunflower 3.3. Both boats use a lateen rigged sail (see below).


This Sunflower 3.3 is made of foam covered in ABS plastic and weighs only 68 pounds, so I can carry it on top of the Toyota 4Runner.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

I wish you lots of fun with these! I there was a water big enough to sail on in my vicinity, I'd go with something like the Sunfish (no need for hiking out). Well, there actually is a lake here, but the only local sailing club at it is 'run' by some un-dead antisocial fossils (of about my own age!) who live about 50 years in the past and refuse whatever has to do with any kind of living. Not my people.
If anyone is interested: I have an old wooden Finn Dinghy with some work for sale. PM for more information.

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

I wish you lots of fun with these! I there was a water big enough to sail on in my vicinity, I'd go with something like the Sunfish (no need for hiking out). Well, there actually is a lake here, but the only local sailing club at it is 'run' by some un-dead antisocial fossils (of about my own age!) who live about 50 years in the past and refuse whatever has to do with any kind of living. Not my people.
If anyone is interested: I have an old wooden Finn Dinghy with some work for sale. PM for more information.

Ignore the fossils. Sail for your own benefit.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Ignore the fossils. Sail for your own benefit.

Thank you, but the only access to the water goes through even these fossils. The lake is a drinking water reservoir in a protected natural zone. No swimming or other recreational activities in or on the water allowed. I like sailing very much, but the urge is no longer big enough for me to put up with these people. I have my models to dream away with.

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Thank you, but the only access to the water goes through even these fossils. The lake is a drinking water reservoir in a protected natural zone. No swimming or other recreational activities in or on the water allowed. I like sailing very much, but the urge is no longer big enough for me to put up with these people. I have my models to dream away with.

That is very sad to hear. I am lucky to live in Minnesota where lakes are no more than a mile or two away in every direction. After repairing my boat, I have to either locate or build a trailer to haul it with.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Kurt, you should have some fun with those boats. If you come north, let me know. The Duluth Superior harbor is a great place to sail. It’s about 8-10 miles long and maybe a mile wide. It’s protected from Lake Superior by Park Point, a long inhabited spit of land. It is nearly empty of other small craft most of the time. The best place to launch is at the Duluth Superior Sailing Assn. at the end of Park Point.

I would not take either of these or any other open sail boats into Lake Superior itself. The water, even in the summer is cold enough to give you hypothermia after even a brief immersion. And again you’ll be pretty much alone. The Coast Guard and local first responders do have water rescue capacity but not the ability to be on the scene in just a few minutes after a capsize. On the other hand, the water in the harbor in the summer is warm and help is close by.

Roger

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Kurt, you should have some fun with those boats. If you come north, let me know. The Duluth Superior harbor is a great place to sail. It’s about 8-10 miles long and maybe a mile wide. It’s protected from Lake Superior by Park Point, a long inhabited spit of land. It is nearly empty of other small craft most of the time. The best place to launch is at the Duluth Superior Sailing Assn. at the end of Park Point.

I would not take either of these or any other open sail boats into Lake Superior itself. The water, even in the summer is cold enough to give you hypothermia after even a brief immersion. And again you’ll be pretty much alone. The Coast Guard and local first responders do have water rescue capacity but not the ability to be on the scene in just a few minutes after a capsize. On the other hand, the water in the harbor in the summer is warm and help is close by.

Roger

The cold water is indeed a serious hazard, and you'd need a proper dry suit to sail from Sand Point, WI north 1.6 miles to Sand Island, or 4 miles around the point east then 1.3 miles across to Oak Island and camp there. One would have to plan such a trip after checking the three day weather forecast, know the water temperatures, and expect to capsize at least once and prepare the boat rig and dress yourself for that. You don't underestimate the effects of that cold, cold water. You don't sail a sunfish class boat in wind over 18 mph if you want to keep it upright unless you are very experienced. The water on the south shore is typically warmer than on the wets and north shores. If it looks risky, you don't go, and in any event, it's not safe if you're only boat sailing there. Lake Pepin is also a great place to sail.

 

[Roger Pellett]

My first boat was a Sunfish. The first ones were wood. My father and I built it from a kit from Alcort Marine the original manufacturers of Sailfish and Sunfish boats. I was 13 years old. I sailed it seriously in all kinds of winds on a small lake in Ohio and capsized very few times. It was a great boat. They are still actively raced.

Roger

 

[Jerome]

Nothing quite as fun as a new old sailboat.
Enjoy the sailing.
These little guys should be a blast to sail.

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Nothing quite as fun as a new old sailboat.
Enjoy the sailing.
These little guys should be a blast to sail.

...until you realize all the things you didn't notice that require lots of time and money to repair. I'm patching two holes in the hull and have to repaint the bottom after sanding the old paint that is full of brush marks.

Hole#1


First patch layer. Second layer is pending. Then comes sanding and repainting.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

...until you realize all the things you didn't notice that require lots of time and money to repair. I'm patching two holes in the hull and have to repaint the bottom after sanding the old paint that is full of brush marks.

Hole#1
View attachment 621353

First patch layer. Second layer is pending. Then comes sanding and repainting.
View attachment 621354

I would put some glass mat over that stringer, just in case. My last boat, an old plywood Vaurien, had 7 holes in it when I got it. It's all part of the fun.

 

[Jerome]

The joy of owning a boat.
Maintenance!
Or prep work.
Boats tend to be forever being maintained as something is always breaking.
Looks like you’ve got a handle on the repairs though.

 

[cdnfurball]

You’re bringing back some old memories with the snark….
Lasers and hobby cats…Those were some simpler times

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

The joy of owning a boat.
Maintenance!
Or prep work.
Boats tend to be forever being maintained as something is always breaking.
Looks like you’ve got a handle on the repairs though.

No worries. I'll have it seaworthy in no time.