I totally understand and I also understand it’s not going to change, but it why the USA has so many old classes . If you have a good handicap scene it allows a class to grow organically at different locations with out the need for half a dozen people to buy in to a new class at a club . Tbh it also helps that the uk is small so if people want class racing they can do open meetings with out having to travel thousands of miles .
SOL Sailing???
- Thread starter DaveK
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DaveK
Super Anarchist
- Thread starter
- #22
I moved to an island in the middle of the pacific that actually has a yacht club with 6 sunfish to sail. Not very many people sail them but me and for some reason my life loves these little boats compared to my Corsair tri back home. And I'm guessing cause all she has to do is sit there and not do anything. Here's a vid hanging out with a 9' selfie stick.......
DaveK
Super Anarchist
- Thread starter
- #23
I can't get that video to post which is weird.... so in other news we had a private boat break free of its anchor on the ocean side of lagoon. It's a rule here to use 2 anchors but they did not 
Boat is doomed with an 8' crack in the hull, They may drag it off reef where it quickly falls to 3000' of water
Boat is doomed with an 8' crack in the hull, They may drag it off reef where it quickly falls to 3000' of water
Dillon Waltner
Member
I said those exact words to the Commodore of the local Rebel fleet 20 years ago. I was of course ignored. Today they are struggling to get 6 boats to show up for a race and the youngest skipper is in his 50s.
Central Coast
New member
At Annapolis Boat Show
WCB
Super Anarchist
Looks like a Sunfish and a Rocket had a baby.
Bummer that they use a clear knock off of the Sunfish rudder. Would have been nice to see something more modern since it seems like common knowledge that the Sunfish rudder could be better.
Bummer that they use a clear knock off of the Sunfish rudder. Would have been nice to see something more modern since it seems like common knowledge that the Sunfish rudder could be better.
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Knowing the manufacturer of the Sunfish is allegedly not the easiest to deal will , I think we could all make a guess or two. 😂
Hopefully someone that has some inside info will post some facts on the situation. .
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tillerman
Super Anarchist
It looks as if it has an open cockpit - much like the Fulcrum Speedworks Rocket. I guess this helps if you want to take your grandkids for a ride, but as a single-handed sailor, I always appreciated that cubby hole at the back of the Sunfish cockpit - great place to stow all kinds of stuff - food, drinks, spare clothes (handy if it gets warmer or colder during the day) emergency repair kit, FM radio etc. etc. etc.
Your sailing experience must be a lot wider than mine, as I don’t think I’ve ever carried a emergency repair kit and a fm radio in a singlehanded boat 😀.
On a more serious note , is there any sort of publicity about it anywhere ? I’ve tried doing a Google search and drawn a blank .
Looking at their website:
My impression is that the SOL is basically the Sunfish hull with a new deck/cockpit. All the other parts (mast, sail, bailer,...) look to me like Sunfish parts.
My impression is that the SOL is basically the Sunfish hull with a new deck/cockpit. All the other parts (mast, sail, bailer,...) look to me like Sunfish parts.
That video answers a lot of questions, the most interesting parts are towards the end:
https://fb.me/e/1ZbJXm3Sq
So, yes, the boat is a Sunfish hull, all "known issues" have been addressed (e.g., backing plates), all parts are backwards compatible.
https://fb.me/e/1ZbJXm3Sq
So, yes, the boat is a Sunfish hull, all "known issues" have been addressed (e.g., backing plates), all parts are backwards compatible.
Dave Clark
Anarchist
Just for the record, the ONLY thing the SOL and the Rocket have in common is a long cockpit. If you think they're similar you're not looking at the weight, laminate specification, sailplan, blades, freeboard, rocker, bilges, topside flare, planform.... pretty much everything. One looks a lot like a sunfish. If you sit a sunfish and a rocket side by side, you'll see very quickly that they're different in more ways than just cosmetics and creature comfort.
DRC
PS: Am I thin skinned? Yes. The Rocket deliberately exists in a known category, but it's not derivative. And where it is derivative, it's not derived from a Sunfish.
DRC
PS: Am I thin skinned? Yes. The Rocket deliberately exists in a known category, but it's not derivative. And where it is derivative, it's not derived from a Sunfish.
Dave Clark
Anarchist
So a Sunfish can measure in at a SOL regatta. Problem solved for a lot of people all at once.
DRC
They are giving them away if show discount is 10% off plus you get a cover and dolly that is $1k value for the boat. If they are cored and also bagged they are making zero money at that price. Now if the parts are outsourced and are SF even less profit.
This could make the Sunfish market very interesting going forward , it’s opens up loads of possibilities , for the classes, for sailors and possibly for lawyers too .
breaqnaway
New member
Maybe I’m the only one, but I was a little disappointed when I saw this was marketed to a sunfish/rocket buyer. I was hoping for a “sail boat” targeted at the bottom of the market. A toy boat that gets as many kids or adults on the water sailing as cheaply as possible. You could get a Snark for $90 in 1973 ($600 in 2022). I’m fine if it only lasts a few summers….it’s a gateway to get families interested in sailing. I think most people who are not sailors have no interest in a 5k “lake toy” for their kids….but a $600? That’s a lot more interesting.
On the bright side, things like wing foiling are getting cheaper and cheaper every year.
On the bright side, things like wing foiling are getting cheaper and cheaper every year.
UniformWhiskey
New member
I wonder if you could make something like an enlarged inflatable SUP that could take a set of blades and simple boomless sailing rig? I have a Tower inflatable like the one pictured below and it can certainly carry my weight easily with minimum flex. Assuming its possible I doubt it would blow anyone socks off performance wise, but I imagine you could make it pretty cheap. Even better if it could still double as a SUP or kayak. Plus you can just deflate and roll it up when you are done.
My apologies in advance if this sounds like some type of sailing heresy.
Cheers,
-John
