Jul 26, 2006. The SAILFISH is the first boat built by Alcort Inc. Plywood construction, wood spars, and available as a kit. In the beginning they were built in an unheated shed. After an article appeared in 'Life' magazine, they couldn't keep up with orders and had to build a new factory. The SUPER SAILFISH (1948?), also of wood, was slightly larger. Alcort stopped selling kits in the mid-60s. By 1982 over 200,000 SUNFISH had been sold. Despite the numbers, producing a single Sunfish hull was a labor intensive task. All the layup in the female mold was done by hand. Chopper guns were never used. By 1969 Alcort was overwhelmed by the ever increasing demand and the company was sold to AMF. 1968 Alcort Sunfish, Serial # 53608. 14′ Two owners since new. Always stored dry and covered or garagedwithin a few lbs of original weight. Sailed only in fresh water (Lake George). Original aluminum top deck trim and coaming are completely intact and all rivets still in place. Original cockpit drain and hull drain plug both operate easily.
Alcort Sunfish Serial Number
![Number Number](https://www.sailingtexas.com/Pics/picsunfish004c.jpg)
AMF named their boat division for the founding Alcort Co., capitalizing on the considerable name recognition Alcort, Inc. Had built up over its 24-year history. Little was done with the Sailfish design in the ensuing six years except to upgrade the rudder blade's shape in 1972 to the more streamlined design also used on the Sunfish.
Go to Sailing Texas classifieds for current sailboats for sale 1950's Sailfish The boat is easily carried on top of your vehicle since the hull only weighs 82 lbs. The boat is virtually maintenance free. The Sailfish is slightly smaller than a Sunfish (11'7' in length vs. 13'7'). The sail is also slightly smaller (65 sq. ft. vs. 75 sq. ft.). Mac miller kool aid and frozen pizza download. I restored the boat as a fun project, but I am 67 years old and do not have the agility anymore to sail this type of boat. Please contact me if you have any questions. I will be glad to e-mail more photos to you. Hi David, I sold my Alcort Sailfish (https://www.sailingtexas.com/ssailfishc.html) today. Do you remove the listing or is this something I do? Also, do I owe you any money? I tried to sell the boat through E-bay and Craig's List, but no luck. The buyer saw my ad on Sailing Texas and drove 10 hours to my house to pick it up. Great results! Thank you, Keith Reno, Nevada |
Alcort Sailfish Serial Number
General Age Guidelines
If the serial number is on a metal deck plate near the splash rail; 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.
Hull Identification NumberIf 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.
Manufacturer Codes:
AMF = AMF Alcort.
P = Pearson Sailing Yachts.
SLI = Sunfish Laser Inc.
OQT = Vanguard Sailboats/LaserPerformance
Hull Identification Numbers
From Nov. 1, 1972 to Aug 1, 1984 two formats were used to show the date of production, STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR.
Straight Year Format
AMF 59483 07 79
Manufacturer: AMF Alcort
Hull Number: 59483
Month: 07
Year: 79
Model Year Format
AMF 59483 M 84 G
Manufacturer: AMF Alcort
Hull Number: 59483
M = Model Year Format
Model Year: 84
Month of Production: G (Feb)
Production Month Letter Codes:
A = August; B=September; C=October; D=December; F=January; G=February; H=March; I=April; J=May; K=June; L=July
'New Format'
In 1984 an updated format known as the 'NEW FORMAT' replaced STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR formats. From January 1, 1984 until August 1, 1984 STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR were optional. On August 1, 1984 the New Format became mandatory.
SLI 99999 B 7 87
Manufacturer: Sunfish Laser Inc.
Hull Number: 99999
Production Month: B (February) See Below
Year of Production: 7
Model Year: 87
Production Month Letter Codes:
A= January; B=February; C=March; D=April; E=May; F=June; G=July; H=August; I=September; J=October; K=November; L=December
Attached is a full timeline of the Sunfish History.
If the serial number is on a metal deck plate near the splash rail; 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.
Hull Identification NumberIf 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.
Manufacturer Codes:
AMF = AMF Alcort.
P = Pearson Sailing Yachts.
SLI = Sunfish Laser Inc.
OQT = Vanguard Sailboats/LaserPerformance
Hull Identification Numbers
From Nov. 1, 1972 to Aug 1, 1984 two formats were used to show the date of production, STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR.
Straight Year Format
AMF 59483 07 79
Manufacturer: AMF Alcort
Hull Number: 59483
Month: 07
Year: 79
Model Year Format
AMF 59483 M 84 G
Manufacturer: AMF Alcort
Hull Number: 59483
M = Model Year Format
Model Year: 84
Month of Production: G (Feb)
Production Month Letter Codes:
A = August; B=September; C=October; D=December; F=January; G=February; H=March; I=April; J=May; K=June; L=July
'New Format'
In 1984 an updated format known as the 'NEW FORMAT' replaced STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR formats. From January 1, 1984 until August 1, 1984 STRAIGHT YEAR and MODEL YEAR were optional. On August 1, 1984 the New Format became mandatory.
SLI 99999 B 7 87
Manufacturer: Sunfish Laser Inc.
Hull Number: 99999
Production Month: B (February) See Below
Year of Production: 7
Model Year: 87
Production Month Letter Codes:
A= January; B=February; C=March; D=April; E=May; F=June; G=July; H=August; I=September; J=October; K=November; L=December
Attached is a full timeline of the Sunfish History.