amf sunbird sailboat parts

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• Sailboat Guide

Amf Sunbird 16

Amf Sunbird 16 is a 15 ′ 10 ″ / 4.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Fred Scott, Jack Evans and built by AMF Corp. between 1975 and 1981.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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16' AMF Sunbird? New! Input please

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I am looking at getting my first sail boat. I live in Vermont, and will be sailing on Lake Champlain. I want a sail boat that has a drop keel, since I will be mooring it in relatively shallow water. My questions are, is 1400 a good price for a clean 16' AMF Sunbird? Will this boat be big enough to explore the lake, and sleep on with my girlfriend? Can it handle waves, and higher winds? Basically I want to sail to certain islands, drop anchor and camp out. Is there anything I should look for specifically with this model? The boat is very clean, its a 1975 but this guy is the second owner and has the original owners manual. It comes with a Trailex Aluminum trailer, evenrude 2 hp engine, extra sails, and a storm sail. I will try to attach some photos. He says the top has some spidering which has been treated. So, should I snag this boat? Or should I hold out for a Cal 21 or Oday or something like that? Again, it would be my fist sail boat. My Uncle used to have a sail boat and said he could teach me. I really only want to spend 1000-1500, so keep that in mind. Maybe 2000 if it was a really good deal. All input will be appreciated!  

Attachments

That sunbird is a centerboard boat and most likely not self righting. In that size range I would much rather have a Victoria 18, Siren 17 or Oday mariner.  

What do you mean by, not self righting? Forgive me, I am fairly new to sail boats and the terms.  

A centerboard boat when you flip it, and you will flip it, you will have to swim the mast around into the wind and then swim around to the centerboard and climb on to right the boat. A keel boat will right itself when you release pressure off the sails. Do a youtube search to see the difference. I have allways sailed centerboard boats but now that I'm +55 and with a new Bride that is afraid I'm looking to get a keel boat.  

Thank you for the explanation. I found a nice 1978 '16 Oday near by with a great trailer, and outboard motor. They want 2500 for it, seems a little high to me. Is that a high price or am I wrong? Thanks jrcanoe! Here is the only pic of it I have seen  

The Sunbird is a fine little daysailer. I had one for years and sailed it all over Minnesota, local lakes, Superior in settled weather and as far away as Nebraska and Arazona. Sailed well with main and jib or main alone. Handled light wind and brought us through some sudden thunderstorms. Not much room though for sleeping aboard. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk  

Thanks to sailboatdata.com for providing these pictures and also HOSTING them. rb  

Lake Champlain is a big lake. and if you want to go anywhere and sleep on board I would offer 2k for Victoria 18 sailboat for sale and get your uncle to teach you to sail it.  

Cheep learner 15'9" AMF Apollo Performance Daysailer  

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Sunbird Battery Box

• Thread starter Joeswift
• Start date Apr 17, 2023
• Tags amf battery sunbird
• Brand-Specific Forums

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

Welcome Joe to the SBO Forum. The Sunbird is a fun lake boat. As I remember they were a plastic mold boat. That cockpit floor is hollow, designed to provide air between the cockpit deck and the outer hull to keep the boat a float when it is tipped over. The tipped over part is a frequent occurrence as I recall. Putting a 50lb block of lead battery in the boat would not be high in my consideration list for a Sunbird. If the boat tips over the battery will be toast and the weight will make it more difficult to right the boat. I can imagine your thoughts include getting back to shore if the wind dies. In the day, while sailing a 14ft Lido you watched the wind or you sat on the bow and paddled to shore/back to the dock. Perhaps one of the new Torqueedo electric motors has a sealed compartment battery that can be dunked. I do not know. I believe they are much lighter than a MinnKota and Battery box. You may be able to epoxy a board to the AMF plastic and then attach the battery box to the board. I think that process might earn admission in the Annual Darwin Awards. Your boat your choice.  

Project_Mayhem

If I was going to install a battery it would be inside the cuddy. It would be near the center board at the Cuddy entrance and beneath the mast.  

jssailem said: tips over the battery will be toast Click to expand

Davidasailor26

Project_Mayhem said: If a battery can hold in acid+water, then theoretically it should be able to keep water out Click to expand

Project_Mayhem said: I think we've all seen acid around or on a battery at some point Click to expand

jssailem said: I have a pair of jeans that developed holes on the legs when they were washed, after moving my batteries. Good reason to use rubber gloves. I could have used rubber leggings and an apron that day. Click to expand

Wasn't expecting so many replies so fast. I use a minnkota trolling motor for docking and launching. Its only ever on for a minute or two per outing.  

Attachments

Joeswift said: Wasn't expecting so many replies so fast. I use a minnkota trolling motor for docking and launching. Its only ever on for a minute or two per outing. Click to expand

Nice boat Joe. That is the kind of boat I love to teach sailing in. It is simple to use. I would drop it in a lake and show kids or adults wanting to learn sailing, the fun. Board at the dock. Raise the sails and just go. If the wind stops, sit on the bow with a canoe paddle and paddle back to the dock. No motor needed. In light breezes you can learn to back the boat up using the mainsail and the rudder. You can learn to approach the dock only using the jib and then letting go of the sail to slowly coast to the dock. The boat is light enough for even a 10 year old to hold it on the dock, jump aboard and coast out into the water under sail. At that a motor becomes a burden. The weight and storage a pain. Hanging off the stern tonnage. I you must, put your battery where it can do the least damage to your weight and balance on the boat. Under the mast as low as possible. When the motor is not in use in the same place. Remember balance and low/centered CG is important. This is a boat that helps to teach balance and weight distribution/management to optimize the sailing experience.  

It’s a fun looking little boat. Have fun sailing it!  

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