Sunflower Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Snark Sunflower began its production in 1971, emerging as a sibling to the popular Super Snark, distinguished by its slightly larger rig and a different deck arrangement. Initially, the Sunflower was manufactured by Snark Products Inc., a company that built nearly half a million Snark vessels, making them the world's largest sailboat manufacturer. In 1996, Meyers Boat Company acquired Snark, relocating production and continuing the legacy of these affordable and user-friendly sailboats. The design philosophy behind the Sunflower, and indeed the entire Snark line, centered on creating unsinkable, lightweight, and easy-to-manage boats, making sailing accessible to a broad audience. The hull of the Sunflower is constructed from plastic polyethylene, with some models featuring an ABS Armorclad hull. An updated version, the Sunflower 3.3, was introduced around 1990, featuring minor refinements to its design.

Sailing Performance and Handling

At just 11 feet in length overall and weighing approximately 60 pounds, the Snark Sunflower is a classic example of a recreational sailing dinghy. Its design, featuring a lateen rig and a daggerboard keel, emphasizes simplicity and maneuverability. With a reported sail area of 55 square feet, the Sunflower is designed for casual sailing and ease of learning. Its lightweight nature and shallow draft (with a minimum draft of just 0.17 feet with the daggerboard retracted) make it exceptionally easy to launch, retrieve, and transport, often being car-toppable. While capable of handling winds up to 20 knots when well-managed, some owners note that its construction, particularly the use of thin-walled electrical conduit for spars and mast, can feel somewhat fragile in stronger conditions. The boat's unsinkable design provides an added layer of safety for beginners and casual users.

Accommodations and Layout

As a small recreational dinghy, the Snark Sunflower offers a straightforward, open cockpit layout with no enclosed accommodations. The interior is essentially the hull itself, designed for maximum open space to facilitate easy movement and seating for its occupants. While specific headroom is not applicable, the open design ensures unrestricted vertical space. The focus of the layout is on functionality for sailing, with space for a few individuals on short outings. The simplicity of its design extends to minimal amenities, reflecting its primary purpose as a basic, accessible learning and leisure craft.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners of the Snark Sunflower often praise its affordability, ease of transport, and its role as an excellent platform for learning to sail. Its lightweight nature makes it easy to handle both on and off the water. However, some common issues have been noted by the owner community. Concerns about the durability of certain components, such as the spars and mast, which are sometimes described as being made from thin materials, have been raised. Additionally, some owners have experienced problems with the original oarlocks breaking from their sockets and have voiced concerns about the long-term integrity of the ABS Armorclad hull. Despite these minor drawbacks, the collective sentiment highlights the Sunflower's enduring appeal as an accessible and fun entry-level sailboat that has introduced countless individuals to the joys of sailing.