I am looking at buying my first sail boat and this seems to be a great option with my limited budget. It's comes with new sails, 55kw trolling motor, paddles, trailer, Etc. only problem is after market trim the owner put on there that I'll have to replace or cover the holes from. Other than that I can't see any problems in picking it up to clean tomorrow to see the rest, then I am test driving her this weekend. So please just tell me should I steer clear from this boat or is a great boat? I love that I can beach her and go on islands of id like and I love the cabin it has even though it's small. Iare there better options for 1000 and under? I can probably get this for 500 I think!
Anyome have experience with sunbird 16?
- Thread starter Zu13
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My and are to sail in lakes as hobby probably not race at least competitively, take a friend out or some of the CNU sailing club if it gets made or just take my girl friend out! Any advice is great advice!
Not saying there's anything wrong with posting the boat here, but this is the O'day day sailers forum. You might get a better response at the main trailer sailer's forum here: http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/forumdisplay.php?f=26
All that being said, keep in mind that it's a small boat with a non-ballasted centerboard, according to http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=5921 I am by no means opposed to such boats, and they can be great day sailers. Just be sure you know how to sail and handle a centerboard boat. Given the cabin, I expect this would not be as easy to right as a Sunfish in the event of a capsize. Sail with the mainsheet in your hand, not cleated, and in protected waters, and you'll be fine.
There are at least one or two of these at our lake, and one of them is the non-window cuddy version. They are very similar to a Siren 17 or a Gloucester 16. They all seem nice little day boats.
All that being said, keep in mind that it's a small boat with a non-ballasted centerboard, according to http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=5921 I am by no means opposed to such boats, and they can be great day sailers. Just be sure you know how to sail and handle a centerboard boat. Given the cabin, I expect this would not be as easy to right as a Sunfish in the event of a capsize. Sail with the mainsheet in your hand, not cleated, and in protected waters, and you'll be fine.
There are at least one or two of these at our lake, and one of them is the non-window cuddy version. They are very similar to a Siren 17 or a Gloucester 16. They all seem nice little day boats.
My experience is only with observing these boats, I have an O'DAY Day Sailer II which is not all that different from this ALCORT sailboat. I'll echo the comment above to ALWAYS sail with the mainsheet in hand, BUT I would not hesitate to use the supplied camcleat to hold the tension of the mainsheet, just ALWAYS keep the sheet in hand to allow quick release if a gust of wind hits. I have always sailed my DS II that way, and a 12' O'DAY Widgeon before that and never capsized. I have had a few close calls... sort of... but no worse than a little water coming over the lee side!
ALCORT was a well-respected builder and they seem to have built a lot of these SUNBIRD models, so she is a popular boat! I suspect that in the unlikely event (If sailed like the CB boat she is!) of a capsize, this boat would float pretty high on her side, making it not too hard to right her by standing on the centerboard. But the best way to recover from a capsize is to never let it happen in the first place.
Do not be afraid to sail without the jib if it is windy, or until you are used to the boat, just raise the centerboard a little to reduce the weather-helm (tendency for the boat to turn into the wind while sailing) A little bit of weather helm is a good safety factor, but too much is tiring and slows the boat down.
Unlike the SIREN 17 or Gloucester 16 (AKA: Newport 16, Lapworth 16, Capitol 16) the SUNBIRD does not have any ballast. The SIREN has a 100# steel centerboard, and the Gloucester 16 has either a ballasted keel or a heavy centerboard (100# plus, as I recall). I would not let that fact scare me away from the Alcort Sunbird.
The name of my boat (SUNBIRD) should not be confused with the Alcort sailboat, I just like "bird" names and my DS II is bright yellow!
ALCORT was a well-respected builder and they seem to have built a lot of these SUNBIRD models, so she is a popular boat! I suspect that in the unlikely event (If sailed like the CB boat she is!) of a capsize, this boat would float pretty high on her side, making it not too hard to right her by standing on the centerboard. But the best way to recover from a capsize is to never let it happen in the first place.
Do not be afraid to sail without the jib if it is windy, or until you are used to the boat, just raise the centerboard a little to reduce the weather-helm (tendency for the boat to turn into the wind while sailing) A little bit of weather helm is a good safety factor, but too much is tiring and slows the boat down.
Unlike the SIREN 17 or Gloucester 16 (AKA: Newport 16, Lapworth 16, Capitol 16) the SUNBIRD does not have any ballast. The SIREN has a 100# steel centerboard, and the Gloucester 16 has either a ballasted keel or a heavy centerboard (100# plus, as I recall). I would not let that fact scare me away from the Alcort Sunbird.
The name of my boat (SUNBIRD) should not be confused with the Alcort sailboat, I just like "bird" names and my DS II is bright yellow!