Sunfish Alcort 1967, our tribute to its 50th year.

Above and Below: Our eldest daughter enjoys the wind, sailing the Sunfish - Alcort sailboat on Lake Fenton, Michigan. This was our first use of the boat since it was restored.

Our Story of the Sunfish

When GrandPa and GrandMa invited us to visit their newly purchased condo on Lake Fenton, Dad didn't make it through 1 day without buying a boat. He could not resist all that mahogany woodwork. Dad thought the Sunfish would be easy to car-top on our minivan. Wow, was he wrong! Without a trailer, and being awkward to carry, it sat around somewhat unusable when we brought it home to our prairie community in Illinois. It was restored in year 2016 by our oldest kids while Dad was away on business trip.

Destinations so Far:

• Illinois River, Peoria, IL
• Lake Fenton, Michigan
• Eureka Lake, Illinois

After the tornado of year 2013 claimed our cruising sailboat, we were able to buy the trailer back from the insurance company. It is way overkill for a Sunfish sailboat, but we had so much invested in the trailer that we didn't want to see it scrapped. The main frame took a pounding from the tornado that claimed the cruising sailboat; its frame is bent, but not in a manner that affects usability. Our son and daughter cleared the wrecked hardware and added a front platform that holds 6 bicycles.

The Sunfish survived the tornado because it was stored under our deck, and some debris from our neighbors swing got under the Sunfish and wedged it securely against the deck frame, so it was not damaged nor blown away. The sail was ripped in the garage, but the rest of the hardware was found.

Above and Below: Our son and daughter restored the Sunfish sailboat summer 2016, it looks like new again, and resides on the trailer under this light weather cover. The platform holds 6 bicycles when the sailboat is moved back a few feet.

Above: Our oldest daughter made this video for a school project, before the tornado of year 2013.