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Alcort Sunfish Serial Number9/23/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() For almost 20 years Sunfish racing and AMF/Alcort were synonymous. Bryan and Heyniger sold “Alcort Sailboats” to American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF) in 1969.ĪMF/Alcort Division hired Steve Baker, and later Lee Parks, to organize events and racing leading to establishment of a Class Association. Sunfish racing started almost as quickly as two or three boats came together – the first North American Championship was 1963, the first Midwinters was 1965. Other improvements included aluminum spars replacing spruce, Dacron sails replacing cotton, ash replacing mahogany for tillers, resulting in increased speed, performance and reliability. ![]() In 1959 the introduction of fiberglass and the low cost and ease of production led to the proliferation of Sunfish everywhere. Early wood Sailfish and Sunfish were available assembled or as kits. The logo was created by Heyniger, who traced a nickel and added fins, the tail and an eye. The addition of a cockpit and widening of the hull created the Sunfish. In 1951, Bryan’s pregnant wife found its flat deck somewhat uncomfortable. Friends Alexander “Al” Bryan and Cortlandt “Cort” Heyniger (the Al and Cort in Alcort) pondered, “How to put a sail on a surfboard?” The answer involved a rejected design for American Red Cross waterfront rescue surfboards, leading to the Sailfish – a lateen rigged, flat-decked, plywood marvel. The Sunfish has its roots planted firmly in 1947 in Waterbury, Connecticut. ![]()
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