Sunfish year model table

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You want to know what year that Sunfish was made, good idea as there were differences through the years. While the Sunfish is a strict one design, changes have been made through the years. The first thing to check is the serial number. Since 1973 it has been embossed on the stern, usually on the starboard side just below the rubrail. The last two numbers of the serial number is the year of manufacter. Sometimes the machine used to imprint the numbers made an impression that looks something like a 1 at the end of the number, so ignore that.

This information was posted on the Sunfish website, but they have changed the site and this was no longer available, so I have stored it here for safekeeping.

If the serial number is on a metal deck plate near the splashrail; there is no storage compartment at the aft end of cockpit; and the boat has (or had) the "old style" rudder hardware (where the rudder attaches via 2 bronze fittings): the boat is pre-1971.

The cockpit was redesigned for the 1971 models, which started shipping after the end of August shutdown 1970. However the older cockpits (short) had a flanged top (where they intersected the deck, and the new ones added in September 1970 did not have this. This caused any boat with any nontrivial amount of traditional (deck up) trailering to be an immediate leaker, because the bottom of the cockpit would crack out the hull.

There was a known problem, but no one could figure it out. It was not really determined until the summer of 1972, when the cockpit was re-redesigned with a flanged top like the older shorter cockpit. Alcort replaced many boats, as the 1971/72 model year boats could not be repaired.

The difference in the cockpit is not apparent unless you put your head in the cockpit and see the joint where the upper end of the cockpit hit the deck. The 1971/72 model year boats have a very rough edge at the joint, whereas other years (before the cockpit became integrated into the deck) had a smooth transition.

If the boat has a storage compartment, "new style" rudder hardware (where the rudder attaches via an aluminum bracket on the transom) and has a metal rail around the gunwale, it was built between 1972-1987.

If it has a storage compartment, the "new style" rudder hardware, and rolled fiberglass gunwales, it is 1987 or later.

- - -

If there is a serial number molded into the hull, it will be in the upper right corner of the transom. It can be deciphered to give you the manufacturer and model year. Examples:

- AMFxxxxxM73x : this boat was manufactured by AMF in 1973.
- SLIxxxxxG793 : this boat was manufactured by Sunfish-Laser Inc. in 1993.

AMF = AMF Alcort. These boats varied tremendously in quality and have to be looked at individually. They have a smaller cockpit than the later models.

P = Pearson Sailing Yachts. AVOID THESE BOATS LIKE THE PLAGUE UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

SLI = Sunfish Laser Inc. For the most part these boats were pretty well built.

OQT = Vanguard Sailboats, the current builder. These boats have continued to be very consistent in quality. Serial number to year
500-800.............1955
800-1200............1956
1200-1600...........1957
1600-2000...........1958
2000-2500...........1959
2500-2900...........1960
2900-3400...........1961
3419-5692...........1962
8432-13000..........1963
13000-20900.........1964
20900-29000.........1965
29300-38300.........1966
38300-48000.........1967
48000-59000.........1968
59000-70000.........1969
70000-79000.........1970
80000-91000.........1971
92000-103000........1972
Introduction of storage compartment in aft end of cockpit.
00100-01865.........1972
01865-14099.........1973
14100-28000.........1974
28000-37900.........1975
37900-51100.........1976
51100-61400.........1977
61400-71999.........1978
72000-82900.........1979

- Daniel Feldman, Wind Line Sails
- Al Barsa, Jr.

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