Top Optimist Replacement Parts by Bo Williams, Sales Manager
Here's a look at the highest volume replacement parts we sell for the Optimist.
Airbags
Not a huge surprise that these are one of the highest volume replacement parts. These can get damaged by UV over time if your Optimist is left uncovered or punctured by something sharp, but most commonly, customers over inflate their airbags, and they explode in the heat. Here at Zim, we offer them in several colors and sizes. 48L bags are slightly bigger and leave less water in the boat after righting from a capsize. Click this link to see our airbags on our website.
Hand Bailers and Paddles
Another one that's not a surprise. Every boat typically has two bailers and one paddle. If they're not tied in properly, they can fall out during a capsize. Our bailers are built strong with a large handle and they fit perfectly in the corners of Opti hulls. Click here to see our bailers on our website. Our paddles can be used with one arm while steering with the other. Click here to see our paddles on our website.
Deck Collars and Mast Sleeves
It's always good to inspect your deck collar for stress, wear, or cracks. At Zim, we sell the grey and white deck collars. They are interchangeable in terms of the hole in the deck but the bolt holes are different, requiring drilling and filling. Typically the grey mast collar is seen as an upgrade and always recommended. It allows for the mast to swing easier in lighter air, and the required mast sleeve protects your spar better from wear and tear. Club boats typically will use the white mast collar and no mast sleeve.
1.) Click here to see the gray mast collar and mast sleeve
2.) Click here to see the white mast collar
3.) Click here to see the mast sleeve
Foil Sets
With the sheer number of pre-owned Optimists that are actively sailed throughout North America, you can understand why foils sets are a top replacement part. Eventually, blades reach a point where they're chipped, scratched, or cracked and repairing them doesn't make sense. Here at Zim, we offer three types of foil sets.
1.) The epoxy foil set that comes on our Club Optimist can be found by clicking this link.
2.) The championship foil set that comes on our ZForce Optimist can be found by clicking this link.
3.) The N1 daggerboard can be found by clicking this link and the N1 rudder can be found by clicking this link.
Hiking Straps
Optimist hiking straps get used hard and are exposed to the elements. It's a part of the boat you want to make sure is in good working order so your sailor doesn't end up swimming. Here at Zim, we offer two types of Optimist hiking straps.
1.) We have a standard padded hiking strap that comes on our Club Optimist, which can be found by clicking on this link.
2.) We have a more rigid padded hiking strap with some grippy rubber material on the back of it that comes on our ZForce Optimist, which can be found by clicking this link.
Mainsheets and Mainsheet Pennants with Block(s)
Mainsheets get a lot of use and get exposed to all the elements and they need to be replaced from time to time. Here at Zim we offer two types of Optimist mainsheets:
1.) A tapered mainsheet that can be found by clicking this link.
2.) a Tapered mainsheet with a trigger shackle already installed on it can be found by clicking this link.
Mainsheet Pennants are also a high volume part as well. We have three types we sell.
1.) One is built for a 3:1 mainsheet system that's got Dyneema, which can be found by clicking this link.
2.) Another one built for a 3:1 mainsheet system that is made with webbing that can be found by clicking this link.
3.) The other is for a 4:1 system, which can be found by clicking this link.
Sail Ties and Sail Tie Mini Spools
With the constant tying and untying sail ties get lost a lot. We sell a ton of our sail tie kits - you can find them by clicking this link. You can also get a mini spool of corner tie line by clicking this link or a mini spool of sail tie line by clicking this link.
Sails
There's nothing like the feeling of a new sail! Here at Zim we sell three brands of Opti Sails. One of the reasons we sell a ton of Opti sails is that we offer free numbers and free sail number installation for all sail orders that are placed on our online store. First and foremost, we have the North Club Opti Sail, which is a class legal sail that's perfect for a sailing programs fleet of boats. We also sell race sails by J Sail and Olimpic Sails which are more geared towards the avid racers. The race sails are sold specifically towards the weight of the sailor. Click here to see our North Club Sail and click here to see our Opti Race Sails.
Spar Sets
Here at Zim we offer three types of Optimist Spar Sets:
1.) Club Opti Spar Set - that can be found on our online store by clicking this link.
2.) Black Gold Spar Set - that can be found on our online store by clicking this link.
3.) Optimax MK4 Spar Set - that can be found on our online store by clicking this link.
Tillers, Tiller Extensions, and Universals
From time to time tillers, tiller extensions, and tiller universals break, bend or get lost. We offer a few different options for Optimist tillers, extensions, and universals:
1.) We have a standard tiller and extension that comes on our Club Optimists - you can find this part by clicking this link
2.) We have an upgraded tiller and extension - you can find this part by clicking this link.
3.) We have the standard tiller universal - you can find this part by clicking this link.
4.) We have the upgraded tiller from JCD and the associated tiller universal. You can find the tiller by clicking this link and you can find the universal by clicking this link.
Wind Indicators
Last but not least, another frequently lost or broken part is the wind indicator. We offer four types:
1.) Flag wind indicator - you can find by clicking this link.
2.) Wind Indicator, Hawk MK2 - you can find by clicking this link.
3.) Wind Indicator, Low Friction - you can find by clicking this link.
4.) Wind Indicator, Small Blade - you can find by clicking this link.
As always, please feel free to call or email us anytime! We're looking forward to hearing from you and helping you get prepped for the upcoming season!
Bo Williams
Sales Manager