BoatsSuper Sunfish

Super Sunfish

Cat (unstayed) · Daggerboard · 1974–1984

An unstayed cat-rigged evolution of the classic Sunfish, designed for a more performance-oriented sailing experience

Designed by Alexander Bryan, Cortland Heyniger & Carl Meinart, built by AMF.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Daggerboard

See her sail

The Super Sunfish, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from kentblairl

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.24 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 59 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 59 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.18 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 2 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 2
CoastalBluewater

At 3.23 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.23
LightHeavy

26 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 26
EasygoingPowered-up

40.8 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 40.8

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~85% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~94% of boats her size on file

Compared with 373 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Super Sunfish, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Super SUNFISH is a 4.2-meter sailboat designed by Alexander Bryan, Cortland Heyniger, and Carl Meinart, built by AMF and Alcort from 1974 to 1984. This version of the standard SUNFISH features an unstayed cat rig. With a 1.2-meter beam and a 1.0-meter draft, the 58 kg displacement boat has a sail area to displacement ratio of 40.8. AMF also offered a kit to convert an existing SUNFISH to the Super SUNFISH rig. Aboard kentblairl, a 1982 AMF Sunfish named *Phoenix* is transported on a 6x12 Carry-On utility trailer using a Dynamic dolly, secured with Malone Auto Racks cam-buckle straps.0:23 The spars and mast are protected by a SLO Sail and Canvas spar cover during transport.3:20

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 3 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Super Sunfish on video

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat (unstayed)
Ratios
SA / displacement
40.8
Displacement / length
26.2
Comfort ratio
2.3
Capsize screening
3.23
Hull speed
4.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
190
Hull
Hull type
Daggerboard
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1974–1984
Designer
Alexander Bryan, Cortland Heyniger, Carl Meinart
Builder
AMF, Alcort

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-meter dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
1953 Alcort Sunfish ZIP 30 May 20 Construction Notes2:48from kentblairl
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull
Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit18:40from SEILmagasinet
Ilca 6 (Laser Radial)4.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Olympic-standard single-handed dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lighter sailors
Jørgen Stang Heffermehl – World Sailing3:38from SEILmagasinet
Butler Boats Streaker3.88 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 3.88-metre cat-rigged dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and a fiberglass option introduced in 1998
Behind the scenes at the Wayfarer factory – a tour of Hartley Boatsfrom practicalboatowner
International 144.27 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance development racing dinghy that has served as a testing ground for innovations like the trapeze since 1928
Huff of Arklow - Uffa Fox-designed yacht featuring a fin and skeg, stepped sheerline0:30from Classic Yacht TV
Laser 24.40 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA high-performance fractional dinghy designed by Bethwaite and Bruce, featuring a rapid sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Laser 2 Sailing, A guy a girl and a small dog0:20from Wicked Salty

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Alcort SunfishWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-meter dinghy remains a benchmark for simpleSuper Sailfish MKIIA fiberglass evolution of the original plywood kit boat, featuring a 44.5-kilogram hull and a simple lateen rigAMF Alcort MinifishA scaled-down version of the Sunfish, this lightweight lateen-rigged dinghy offers a nimble ride for solo sailorsIsca (Sunfish)The most popular recreational sailboat in history, this simple lateen-rigged daysailer has been in production since 1952Minifish IIA lightweight 3.58-meter dinghy featuring an unstayed cat rig on the classic Minifish hullAlcort SailfishThe original 1945 plywood kit boat that launched Alcort and sparked a recreational sailing boom

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