Isca (SUNFISH)

Lateen · Daggerboard · 1952–present

Specifications

Dimensions

Weights

Rig & sail area

Rig

Lateen

Ratios

SA / displacement

47.0

Displacement / length

26.2

Comfort ratio

2.3

Capsize screening

3.25

Hull speed

4.8 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

190

Hull

Hull type

Daggerboard

Construction

Fiberglass

Production

Years built

1952–present

Designer

Alexander Bryan, Cortland Heyniger, Carl Meinart

Builder

Zim Sailing

Design & history

The fiberglass Sunfish, introduced in 1960, became the most popular recreational sailboat in history. It has been produced by a succession of builders, with the earliest models built of wood and offered as kits.

Class · ISCA class legal. A mid-1990s class rule change permitted a new, slightly deeper daggerboard. SERO Innovation boats are not ISCA class legal.

Notable features

Earliest models built of wood and offered as kitsFiberglass version introduced in 1960New, slightly deeper daggerboard permitted by class rules in the mid-1990s

Production

Earliest models were built of wood and offered as kits; fiberglass version introduced in 1960. Builder chronology: Alcort, Inc. (1952-1969), AMF (1969-1986), Loveless & DeGarmo dba Alcort Sailboats Inc. (1986-1988), Pearson Yacht Co. (1988-1991), Sunfish/Laser, Inc. (1991-1997), Vanguard (1997-2007), LaserPerformance (2007-2023). In 2024, Zim Sailing was licensed to build the only ISCA class legal Sunfish, now called the ISCA. In 2025, SERO Innovation licensed the Sunfish trademark and logo and exclusive rights to build the SUNFISH from LaserPerformance; these boats are not ISCA class legal.

Curated reference notes

Not yet featured in any indexed video.