Rigging a Sunfish Sailboat

[@AzizurRahman-pr5pz]

This is a SUPERB instructional AV ! Being a Navy man myself, I had such a pleasure watching it ! Thanks to those who came up with the idea of making this AV, and thanks to Mr. King…what a great voice, sir !!!

[@KingGroupProductions]

Thank you for your kind comments. I do appreciate appreciate hearing from those who watch my videos.

[@desult0r]

Mr. King, thank you so much for this excellent tutorial! I rewatch it before heading out the first time every season. Also, in my imagination you're my grandfather now!

[@AhmadYusuf85]

Best sunfish rigging video on KZbin in my opinion , thank you. I liked the tip of tying a bowline to the boom to use it to set the sail to 90 degrees in low wind conditions.

[@MarleneA423]

Ahmad Yusuf za.

[@KathlynElaineAlderman]

Thanks so much. There were a couple of things in the video that were done that we were not taught at our sunfish camp. Great video and very clear - easy to understand. Thank you so much!

[@KingGroupProductions]

Thanks for your comment. The method used at our club of securing the halyard follows a practice typically used by sailors who race their boats at the highest level. The use of a mast cleat and the trucker's hitch insures that the gaff (upper spar) is held snugly to the mast even in high winds. Really glad you liked the video.

[@KathlynElaineAlderman]

@@KingGroupProductions Hi Steve - where did you get the storage hardware to hang the rudder/tillers in your storage area. Ours are just leaning against each other in corners. And where do you store the daggerboards?

[@KingGroupProductions]

@@KathlynElaineAlderman Hi Kathlyn, big screw hooks from the hardware store are used to hang rudder/tillers against a wall; they are bent a little bit and turned so the hook faces down. With the tiller straight up the “fork” of the tiller slides right over the hook. The result is the rudders lie perpendicular to the wall getting a lot of rudders in a small space. One of our members built a rack for dagger boards: two 2x4s spaced a dagger board width apart with 1x2s placed across them ladder-like leaving ‘slots’ just wide enough for the board to slide in and rest on the cleats at the top of the board. Wish I had pictures.

[@erniedmd1957]

Best instructional video I have ever watched

[@hugonora2215]

Thanks for the very usefull tips. Today my brother bought a 1984 brand new sunfish and i have no idea how to riging the boat. I used to sail on hobie cats and will be a plesure to sail with this classic boat. Tank you again. Hugo

[@paulyprint4449]

Great Job! I just restored an old pre-71 sunfish. Only sailed this kind of boat twice, I haven't sailed for 22 years! This really helps me out! I can't wait to try it out!

[@BellotaFloof]

Man, I love your voice. Also, very helpful video!

[@KingGroupProductions]

Thank you. I've been very lucky to make my living from voicing commercials, documentaries, and corporate and educational videos.

[@elizabethriesche3120]

@@KingGroupProductions and we are so lucky to have you!

[@danieldesimonedanny1827]

Very good!! When I retired to Florida I left my beloved Sunfish up north. I could not take everything. It was beat up when I bought it & the rigging & sails where shot. Well you guys are gonna not like this I took all the waterlogged foam flotation out and removed the cockpit. I made watertight bulkheads fore & aft and cut 8 inches around the cockpit circumference to enlarge the cockpit.

[@KingGroupProductions]

To NC Kayaking and Sailing... And anyone else... Feel free to use this video in your instructional programs.

[@alcourtines4707]

In my 50+ yrs of Sunfish sailing, I’ve never seen a cleat on a mast.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Interesting. I'm, relatively speaking, a newcomer to Sunfish sailing, only about 15 years. My club owns about twenty Sunfish, which we sail on Lake Michigan and trailer to other sailing venues. A number of our members sail in regional and national regattas, and a few have done well at the international level. It has been my observation that among the Sunfish racing community, at least among those that are serious competitors, mast cleats and lines and lower spar cleats that permit the adjustment of sail luff and foot tension are pretty universal. I agree that if our club boats were not sailed in competition and not routinely sailed in higher winds and large waves we might use a simpler approach to rigging. Some of our rigging a derigging methods, particularly the way we secure the sail and spars, are meant to address the way we store our equipment and the fact that it was inconvenient, when our hundred plus members were each left to apply their own unique way of storing equipment. That said, I'm always interested in learning more.

[@alcourtines4707]

I'm a recreational sailor.@@KingGroupProductions

[@ellisoncavedo9786]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZOYoJ-cbs-ka5I

[@johnmoses3098]

Splendid instructional video. Thanks! I did notice that "port" should have been "starboard."

[@desult0r]

John Moses I was confused on this too, at first. They laid everything on the starboard side to rig, with the spars and sail on the port side of the mast.

[@nephroid]

This video is excellent! Nicely produced and I learned a few new tricks.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@WestonMorrisdoBrasil]

Super video. I love the trucker's hitch to give you 2:1 purchase on the halyard. Looks like this was filmed on Lake Michigan! Salt Free and no Sharks. :)

[@JohnSmith-ms6zo]

excellent video. very educational. just bought my first sunfish and can't wait to get out on the water

[@WONZQSM]

Thanks for taking the time for making this excellent Video........may wind alway be in your sails.

[@toddstiers3814]

This is great, learned some nice details here that lazy owners forget - i.e., the 2x multiplier using the slipknot and holding down the gooseneck in particular. Thanks - and now for the De-Rigging half!

[@KingGroupProductions]

For de-rigging I suggest you play the video backwards. Just kidding, of course.

[@robhaskell4043]

Excellent video - clean narrative, great videography. Good job, all.

[@bradyrushingtv]

Bravo! Easy and educational to watch and Listen to. Thanks!

[@justinb9010]

Great vid, my mast doesn't have a cleat on it so it sometimes makes for a struggle to downhall the gooseneck without the main dropping

[@KingGroupProductions]

It is easy to install a cleat. Intensity Sails has 3-inch nylon cleats for $6.41. Add a couple of #8 1-inch flathead screws from your local hardware store. Drill two holes with a 7/64-inch bit. And for around $10 bucks you're set.

[@lastchance3552]

@@KingGroupProductionsThank you!

[@AdventuresInReach]

I have my dagger board tied on, but haven't used bungy. I'll have to add that so I can leave it partly raised without holding it. Thanks.

[@karenthompson4251]

Thanks so much for doing! Excellent resource.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Thanks for your encouragement. I have another Sunfish video in mind to cover rigging for lighter and heavier winds. I hope to get to that soon,

[@djSmokeShow]

Sunfish gold right here. Well done.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Thank you very much.

[@Maxxaruba]

Greetings from Aruba (av. 17 knots wind). Excellent instruction videos thank you very much; I learned a lot! Question: What is the brand and type of the stand up ratching block you are showing?

[@KingGroupProductions]

Most of our boats use Harken ratchet blocks.

[@sdfmills9909]

The cleat that is shown on the mast.....did the owner put that there and how far up the mast is it?

[@KingGroupProductions]

All of the Sunfish in the North Shore YC fleet have cleats on the mast. And, our fleet is not unique. Most sailors who race Sunfish install a mast cleat. It helps to tension the halyard tightly, so the upper spar is held snugly to the mast. It is hard to get that same tension on the halyard, when it is led directly from the top of the mast to the deck pad eye and back to the deck cleat.

[@BryceRundell]

Love the video, super helpful. Explained really well.

[@eighties8]

The absolute best video on rigging a Sunfish bar none. Really easy to follow. Can you tell me which model Ratchet block is being used for the main sheet? It appears to be a Harken, but which model and size?

[@KingGroupProductions]

My club uses Harken and Ronstan ratchet blocks. We do not use integral cam cleats believing that keeping the sheet in hand is safer for new sailors.

[@tyo451]

Love this vid! Can you tell me which block you use? I got a 40 mm from them but it doesn’t have that rubber mount. Is that separate? And if so, what’s it called? (Been searching on google no luck.)

[@tjaniga]

Very well done! Thank you so much.

[@PaddlingIowa]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing!

[@Orcabytes]

This video inspired me to buy a sunfish to teach my daughter.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Joel Fletcher ... This is the most gratifying response I’ve received

[@KingGroupProductions]

Joel Fletcher How is your daughter doing? The SF is a great boat to learn on. Find some other Sunfish sailors and do some racing. No matter how often you sail it or how many years you will learn something new every time you go. I just went flying with a great Sunfish sailor. He said he started each sail with 50 tacks upwind and 50 gybes downwind. That’s the way to have a great time and become a champion. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Orcabytes]

Steve King she is excited! I signed her up for Sailing lessons but they don't start until spring so we are working on our knots and watching videos. A new sunfish is almost 5 thousand dollars so I'm looking around for a used one that isn't beat up.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Joel Fletcher... Don't know where you live. Market varies. My club is in the Chicago area. We buy used Sunfish is good condition, with undamaged spars, boards, and a decent sail for $1,000 to $2,000. Newer boats more. Fixer-uppers less. Even older boats can be in good shape if well cared for. Main thing is you want a boat that is dry...no water in the hull. Water in the hull may indicate a leak, typically in the hull-deck seam, the dagger board trunk, or the mast step. All can be repaired. You might want to check out the Sunfish Forum: sailingforums.com/categories/the-sunfish-forum.20. Lots of good information in their files section. People on the message board are very nice and helpful. Don't forget Craig's list. Sometimes real bargains show up there.

[@Orcabytes]

Im in Washington State. In Bellingham. If you could help me find one that would be amazing.

[@chrishughes8188]

Awesome method! My mast doesnt have a cleat - can i install one myself? Looking foreward to to trying this - the de-rigging ideas are inspired.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated. A four inch horn cleat works. The distance on the mast above the deck is not critical...2-3 feet works. You will need an electric drill, a number 29 drill bit, a tap wrench, an 8-32 tap, two 8-32 screws long enough to pass through the cleat you've chosen plus about a half inch more, and a small bottle of Locktite 242. The Locktite is to prevent the screws from loosening over time. 242 is the blue colored product with medium strength. Locktite 262 will also work; it just makes it a little harder to remove the screws should that be necessary. Glad to hear you like the de-rigging method. I don't know who developed the method. I learned it from sailors at the North Shore Yacht Club in Highland Park, Illinois. They have a fleet of about 20 Sunfish that are used for adult and high school sailing classes as well as for the use of club members.

[@peterrafeiner9461]

Very helpful for a beginner. Thanks !

[@northcarolinacommunitysail7423]

Nice video. May I use it here at NC Community Sailing & Rowing as an instructional video? Can I link to it on our web site?

[@JB-rt4mx]

No anchor, paddle, horn, flare signals, bucket, rescue flag, flashlight, first aid kit, 50ft 3/4" tow line 🤨⚠️🪣📣🧽🧯fire extinguisher, mae west.

[@Knelson123]

It's a sunfish bro

[@larsthorwald3338]

Go below deck, Mister, or I'll have you keel-hauled! hahaha

[@JB-rt4mx]

How doned you knows all dese ropes wid the weelhy bobbers...so hartd to ramember...wats a waychit bluck? Bowelline...too hardts fo mi

[@KingGroupProductions]

I feel your pain.

[@MachTuck]

Hello, can I use sunfish a sunfish rudder and mechanism on my Dolphin sr? thanks, excelent video!

[@djsolo14]

Your VO actor is perfect for this video! Ty...

[@KingGroupProductions]

+Shaun Greenspan That VO actor would be me. Thank you very much for your encouragement. Steve

[@MrBOSMAN1970]

I noticed that a couple of sail cringles at the fore end of the boom are not tied to the boom. In your recently posted Sunfish rigging video part 2, I see how this allows for positioning the gooseneck for wind conditions. Are those ties added in a later rigging step or do you sail without those sail ties?

[@KingGroupProductions]

MrBOSMAN1970 ... I leave those ties off, because I frequently adjust the boom on the water. Thanks for watching.

[@vicpinto1970]

Great video. Thanks so much!

[@wethepeople9161]

Excellent video. I just got a sunfish sailboat. I'm very close to Lake Erie and am looking forward to learning. (And sailing!) Is there any one thing I should know or never do ?Thanks for the video!

[@KingGroupProductions]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Congrats on your new Sunfish. As soon as Lake Michigan warms up a few degrees (now at 42 F.) I'll be doing a new Sunfish video tackling both rigging for recreational sailing with two aboard as well as rigging options for higher winds.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Sorry that I didn't answer your question with my last reply. One thing to never do? Hmm? Never go sailing in cold water, under 60 degrees and that may be a little too cold, without proper clothing. I use, roughly, the following guidelines: Under 65 degree water...a shorty wet suit, under 60 degrees...a full wet suit (4 mm), under 55 degrees...1/4" full wet suit, under 50 degrees...a dry suit with proper inner layers. And, a spray jacket over the wet suit for all below 60 degrees. I'd be interested to hear other experienced sailors guidelines. A week ago I interviewed a sailing instructor who told me about an incident that happened to her, when she was 17 and an experienced and very successful FJ dinghy racer. She had on a full wet suit. During a race with an inexperienced crew her boat capsized on Lake Michigan in 41 degree water. Because of the inexperienced crew she had to do the work of getting the centerboard up, clearing lines, etc. before righting the boat. She had the presence of mind to look at her race watch; she knew she only had about 10-15 minutes before strength and coordination would suffer. She rapidly began to lose strength. After 9 minutes she was unable to use her upper body to get back in the dinghy. The race committee boat said they got to her in 12 minutes after they saw her capsize. She had become unconscious before they arrived, and the first aid certified committee boat operator said that he could not find a pulse. He administered chest compressions until paramedics arrived on a police boat. She remembered hearing someone counting compressions as she regained consciousness. She was very lucky. So, never sail in cold water without appropriate thermal protection clothing.

[@amitreves2066]

What is your favorite website for knots instruction?

[@KingGroupProductions]

Sorry. I don't have a favorite. Try several until you find one you like.

[@algraham1376]

How long is the halyard on these boats? I would like to use your setup but halyard is not near long enough. Thanks

[@KingGroupProductions]

APS and Sunfish Direct recommend 25 feet of 3/16 line. The rigs at my club use about 28 feet of halyard. Thanks for watching, and if you like the video, please click the like button and subscribe to the channel. I'd like to do more of these videos.

[@algraham1376]

Steve King thanks for your reply. I will subscribe and look forward to seeing more of this. I just got this boat for leisure, but you know the saying about if there are two sailboats in the river......

[@josephhinton5489]

If my mast has no cleat, I run the main sheet aft to bow, yes?

[@KingGroupProductions]

Not sure I understand. Without a cleat on mast run halyard down to deck fairlead and aft to cleat on deck aft of the mast. Does that help? Cleat on mast is a good upgrade IMO. And easy to install about 3 feet up from deck.

[@marandlen]

Can you tell me how to remove the rudder from the boat. In the video it did not show this!

[@KingGroupProductions]

+Fido Yllets The modern rudder uses a stainless steel pin. Two grooves are machined into it. The pin is spring loaded. By moving the rudder pin against the spring the grooves can be aligned with the gaps in the gudgeon bracket allowing the rudder to be removed from the boat. Check out Annapolis Performance Sailing Sunfish parts page to see pictures of the rudder cheek assembly, the pin (called the "Post"), and the Gudgeon bracket. Old style rudders used a different attachment system. In this case a bronze pin needs to be removed. I admit to having no experience with these older rudder styles.

[@marandlen]

Thanks, SK

[@austinmbf]

Superb! Thank you for a great video!

[@Galopo]

How do you install the cleat on the mast?

[@KingGroupProductions]

I believe it is a # 8 x 32 stainless steel machine screw. It depends on the cleat used. The screw should fill the hole in the cleat. Using the fine thread, 32 threads per inch, is best because the mast wall is thin. Use a #29 drill, then carefully use an 8 x 32 tap. I use a bit of Red Locktite on each screw.

[@Galopo]

@@KingGroupProductions thanks for the quick reply! I normally use my sunfish for cruising (do semi-long trips, like Cancun - Tulum), your video taught me how to rig my sunfish 5 years ago. I´m really grateful you took the time and effort to produce this.

[@KingGroupProductions]

@@Galopo I am honored that so many people have found my video helpful. For long trips with steady winds I tie a slip knot at the ratchet block to hold the main sheet and sit on my tiller extension while I eat my lunch.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Install with 8x32 screws. Drill holes with #29 drill bit, then use an 8x32 tap.

[@ChrisLawley43]

Awsome video

[@maritzaacevedo8585]

Awesome - thank you so much

[@jadenu2003]

... so clear ... congrat ...

[@JamieSantucci]

Where did you get that professional voice actor?

[@KingGroupProductions]

I looked in the mirror and in spite of what I saw I hired the guy anyway.

[@kathrynburson8980]

Fabulous! Many thanks guys!

[@jaxgold1732]

how much does one if these cost

[@TheWindigomonster]

I picked up an older one for 125$, they usually sell around 2-300 used.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Cost of a used Sunfish depends on location, condition, and age. Are all the rig elements there: mast, both spars, gooseneck, main sheet? Condition of the dagger board and rudder? A fixer-upper maybe missing spars or sail can go for $100-$200. An older boat with light cosmetic issues but otherwise complete can go for $400 to $800. A boat in good condition, dry interior foam, spars and boards complete, 1990s and newer typically brings $1,000 and up. A new Sunfish sells for around $4,000. My sailing club with a fleet of 18 Sunfish looks for newer boats in very good overall condition and considers anything under $1900 to be a fair price.

[@Bigburt-]

Rocking them infrared 3's I see.

[@KingGroupProductions]

??

[@Bigburt-]

@@KingGroupProductions Google "infrared 3" It's the pair of shoes the kid is wearing.

[@KingGroupProductions]

@@Bigburt- Ahhh!

[@viewtheqquintin5269]

Thanks Steve

[@francesblouin855]

Thanks very helpful

[@christopherworth1]

Port side?! am I missing something here?

[@KingGroupProductions]

I don't understand. Did I screw up the commentary? Port refers to the left side of a boat facing forward just as Starboard refers to the right side of a boat facing forward, very old terms in general use world wide. The way I have heard the story of the origin of the terms is before rudders centered in the stern of a boat were invented a steering oar was by custom situated on the right side of a vessel. It was called a steer board, which evolved to starboard. Because the steer board might be damaged, when mooring a boat at a dock, it was custom to dock with the left side of the boat to a dock. Thus, the port side of a vessel at a dock and the birth of the term Port to refer to the left side of a boat. But, maybe that wasn't your question. It almost certainly was more than you probably wanted to know, right:-) Thanks for watching the video.

[@KingGroupProductions]

Oh, I see what you may be asking about. The picture doesn't really support my narration very well. What I meant was that when the mast is inserted through the bronze goose neck and into the mast step the spars and sail need to be on the left side of the mast, the PORT side of the boat.

[@christopherworth1]

gotcha....language can often be the leading cause of misunderstanding. I do appreciate the video, clear and concise. Thanks for the vid and the response. Have a great day..

[@thatscurtis]

jordans in the sand bb oof

[@curtisasscurtisass7640]

big ole hot tennis shoes and socks on the beach makes me cringe !!!!

[@KingGroupProductions]

Big and little sharp rocks mixed with broken glass in the sand off our beach makes my feet bleed. Also, it was a cool day here at latitude 42 degrees North.

[@humbertocares8385]

Thanks¡¡

[@georgetaylor100]

this boat seems terrible. It has no kicker and just seems needlessly complicated given how low performance it is. Also why would you use a slip not on the halyard, do want it to come undone?

[@KingGroupProductions]

The Sunfish sailboat design first appeared in 1945. It became available in fiberglass in 1960. It is by far the most popular fiberglass sailboat ever made having sold well over 300,000 boats worldwide. It is popular for recreational sailing and is actively raced in hundreds of fleets. The slip knot is used in a two-part hitch to increase halyard tension and to allow the slip knot come out with a quick jerk so that the sail can be lowered. A different knot would jam at the top of the mast and prevent the sail from being lowered. Thanks for watching the video.

[@jaimepadgett1093]

Stahp! My faverioute fish is a sun fish! #unsubbed

[@AndreJanseVanRensburg-u7d]

Very good tips