As a lifelong boatbuilder, I learned a long time ago that the sailing world has a dirty secret: The most famous small sailboat ever made is also the most compromised small sailboat ever made….
Despite all the things the sunfish does well, like simplicity, ease of use, affordability, and performance, the sunfish has unfortunately remained unchanged since its inception in the 1960s, hanging on to its strengths and profound and avoidable weaknesses.
The hull is dynamically unstable and undersized. The spars and rigging are fragile and prone to breaking in wind over 15 knots. The construction methods are outdated, heavy, and prone to waterlogging. The cockpit is small and only suitable for one sailor. The blades are rough-shaped blocks, not foil-shaped, rendering them notoriously ineffective.
For over fifty years, the sunfish has carried on as the standard-bearer for recreational sailing effectively with an arm and leg tied behind its back.
Fast forward to 2020, a group of dealers contacted me with a supply issue. They couldn't get the lateen-style board boats(sunfish)they needed to meet the recreational sailing market's demand.
This was a clear business opportunity for me to build lateen-style boats(sunfish), but I couldn't justify building boats with such flaws.
And then I found a Craigslist ad.
HOWMAR PHANTOM PRODUCTION MOLDS FOR SALE - $1800.00 -Rumford Maine.
For the uninitiated, the Phantom(1971) was a Sunfish killer of its time. Desighned and built by Jack Howie an Ex sunfish builder - its more powerful, spacious, stabler, prettier, dryer, and easier to build. It even looks cooler.
This Craigslist discovery changed everything.
I wasn't going to build sunfish, I wasn't even going to build phantoms, no, not even close. I was going to build Rockets.
The dealers would get the lateen-style board boats they wanted; they would just have to make peace with them not being sunfish but being lighter, less tippy, roomier, and faster.
With the Phantom molds at our disposal, we started modifying, enlarging the cockpit to a spacious 6 feet 3 inches, giving plenty of room for family and friends.
We kept the traditional simple lateen style sail but updated the rigging, reinforcing the spars, allowing for 10% more sail area, making the boat capable of planing upwind.
Incorporating modern composite rudders and daggerboards made the boat hyper-efficient and more manageable to sail.
Building the hull with modern foam honeycomb vacuum-infused vinylester fiberglass composite construction reduced the weight by 25% to just 90 pounds enhancing durability and reducing the risk of waterlogging.
Combining all of these upgrades, we had a new boat on our hands. The Rocket is the proven standard, free from all compromises.
Fast-forward to today, the Rocket has become immensely popular amongst sailors of all backgrounds, from summer camp kids to sailing instructors to Olympians.
Here are more reasons to love the Rocket:
- Priced at only $5,200, it offers the best value on the market.
- Easily transportable, it fits on a car top.
- Quick to rig, requiring just one line to be ready to go.
- Crafted in Rhode Island with superior quality.
- Supported by excellent customer service.
- Customizable with various sail, hull, and padding colors.
- Available for a test sail at our Rhode Island headquarters.
- Parts are easily accessible through our parts store.
If you are looking for a small performance-oriented sailboat with room for your whole family, the Rocket is for YOU!
Click the link below to order your Rocket now!