I just picked up a Snark Sunflower for free.
It's from the 70's, I think. It's a little sailboat. It needs some work--a new transom plate and either a new sail or a ton of sail tape--but it was free!
Pictures to follow. For those that don't know about these, it is styrofoam with an ABS plastic covering; I'll need to remove the plastic.
Congrats on your first purchase of the gateway drug!
I had some fun times with my Uncle Steve as a kid on an 18' Chrysler Buccaneer. I would really like to find a decent cheap sailboat and let my kids get a taste of sailing.
Well bought! 
We had one, when I was a teen. Fun times. 
that's about as cheap as you are going to get with a boat. If you have a pickup or a rack, you do not even need a trailer
My dad started out with a Jetwind in the 70s. Now he has a 34 foot sailboat and some kind of motorboat too. Hope your wallet is up to it.
Sounds fun. I've wanted to go beyond the limits of paddle power. Good luck.
This isn't my first foray into boating--I've been around boats my whole life--but it is my first attempt at a wind powered boat.
mtn wrote: This isn't my first foray into boating--I've been around boats my whole life--but it is my first attempt at a wind powered boat.
Since you're in Chicago, if you have any interest in crewing on larger sailboat like 27ft+, let me know and I will point you in the right direction.
There are sailboat races off downtown even Weds night and many need crew. One of the challenges to finding Weds night crew is you need to be someone who can consistently and reliably get to the water by 5:30pm on a weekday (considering traffic and other work life obstacles)
Don't think I can do that. Wife works late on wednesdays, so I need to get home to get the dogs.
Pictars!
I would peel the plastic off completely and coat it in a combination of 'glass and epoxy.
the Gougeon brothers may have literally written the book on epoxy construction, but West System epoxy is just a little bit hazardous to your health. I much prefer this stuff: Totalboat Epoxy
mad_machine wrote: I would peel the plastic off completely and coat it in a combination of 'glass and epoxy. the Gougeon brothers may have literally written the book on epoxy construction, but West System epoxy is just a little bit hazardous to your health. I much prefer this stuff: Totalboat Epoxy
Is that safe on styrofoam though? And what is the cost to do it?
(Can't click on the link, bad cell reception right now and it keep scrapping out on me)
Works well on foam. the Hazardous part of epoxy is that your body builds up an intolerance to it. Keep it off your skin and you will be fine.
To do that boat right, I am thinking about $500 in epoxy and a $100 in glass matting.
Eek!! $600 might be more than I want to put into this project. I'll have to think about it.
$600 will buy a Sunfish (similar sized boat that wasn't built to be disposable) in ready to run condition, or something a little bigger if you look hard enough.
I learned a little about dickering because of a Snark. They had one in a local store in the late 60s for $175. I couldn't afford that. One of my brothers friends went in and offered $100, which they took.
That might be too far gone to even use a plastic welder on.
If you do decide to glass it, this guy has some great videos.
I don't recommend it but I have a friend that uses his without the plastic covering
pilotbraden wrote: I don't recommend it but I have a friend that uses his without the plastic covering
I think that will be where we end up with this honestly. It's not worth it to put any money into it--if I get a summer out of gt, I win.
My friend got his for free and didn't want to spend money on it. He has sailed it every summer for at least 5 years. It is showing wear but not as much as I expected.
Gorilla Tape over the cracks?
What about removing the plastic and then throwing a coat of THICK latex paint on there?
Robbie wrote: What about removing the plastic and then throwing a coat of THICK latex paint on there?
Flex-Seal
Fiberglassing the whole boat sounds like a nightmare. Maybe fiberglass a patch over the crack but thats it. I would tape it all to hell and then sail the heck out of it until it sank.
Robbie wrote: What about removing the plastic and then throwing a coat of THICK latex paint on there?
This is likely the answer.
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