Teak Sunfish -> what to finish with....

[jlw917]

I was recently given an old Sunfish (made in the 40's or 50's I was told) it hasnt seen water in at least 30-40 years, and it looks like what ever finish was on there has been stripped at some point since, and is now just bare wood. It looks to be made of teak, and I was wondering what I should finish it with to get it ready for a local lake. Some sort of oil? Varnish/Polly? I am a woodworker so the finishing shouldn’t be a problem, I just have zero experience with boats and/or marine finishes. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated, thanks a lot,
-JW

[David W Pratt]

Everything on a boat is finished in elbow grease.
But seriously, if it is that old it must be a sailfish, predecessor to the sunfish and is prolly mahogany, marine plywood.
Good Luck

[Reilly, Mark]

The old preAMF Sunfish were made of Mahogany Ply. We used to paint and varnish and unlike other boats (moths and Comets) the sunfish seemed to get a little water logged unless you dragged them out of the water between races. Is it glued or fastened with copper nails?

Good Luck...could be a fun boat.

Mark

[jlw917]

Yeah, at closer inspection it is mahogany plywood, i didnt look too closely before because of the 30yrs of dust on it... Its held together with what looks like brass srews, quite a few of them. So what do you think i should finish it with? thanks a lot,
-Jason

[rbgarr]

My wife had one when we first met and she always painted it with whatever she found at the dump pick pile. One year it was Highway Stripe Yellow (reflective!) which we imagined made it easier to see from other boats.

Are you asking for advise about painting the boat a color or varnishing it so the wood grain shows through?? In either case I'd just get good marine primer and enamel paint (Interlux, Pettit) or marine varnish (I like Epifanes) and take your time on it.

I'd avoid epoxy or polyurethanes, but that's just my preference.

[wyndham]

Sounds more like a Sailfish. If it has no cockpit it's a sailfish. If the ply is sound, thers no reason not to simply finish it bright with you choice of high qaulity varnish, or prime it and paint it. I would give it a good going over and check the dagger board trunk at the keel, the lower tranom corners and the stem in particular. Tap, tap all around and listen for hollow or mushy sounds, poke an awl at the chines and the stem.
My Dad and I built one from a kit in the early sixties, marine ply, fastened with bronze screws that I believe came in the kit. I would pull a screw or two and see if they aren't bronze. Have fun!

[Leon m]

I restored an old wooden Sunfish a few years back.I painted the hull with a good quality enamel,
and finished all the trim bright (varnished). they are a fun little boat,good luck.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/321693/sunfish-2.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/321693/sunfish-5.jpg

[ 06-10-2005, 08:17 AM: Message edited by: Leon m ]

[jlw917]

My boat looks just like the boat in the photos above except natural wood grain instead of paint. I think id rather varnish instead of painting it, someone mentioned Epifanes, is there a good place to order it online, and how much would you estimate i will need? Thanks again for all the help.

[ 06-10-2005, 12:47 PM: Message edited by: jlw917 ]

[Leon m]

Jamestown distributors (http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/ak/Paints/index.html?homeimg)

Depending on how many coats you plan on using...I think you could get by with two quarts.

Hey ,does your boat have all the original bronze hardware...if not ,I know a guy down on the gulf of Texas,that still sells the stuff.

[Sail Ho]

I just joined this forum so Hello to All -

This thread is related to my area of interest so pardon me for double posting this request.

I am looking for an original set of assembly instructions for either the Sailfish or Sunfish wood kit boat.

There is a working thread under Designs / Plans. If you have any information would you please drop by and add it there.

Thanks for your consideration,

Wayne