bowsprit , macwester 27 advantages ?

[dunkelly]

I was told when i bought the boat that a number of owners have retro fitted bowsprits to this boat . having sailed her now for two years i have found she behaves very well points ok for a bilge keeler and generally dosnt carry too much weather helm ..... .So the question is what would be the advantage of the bowsprit . have any other owners done this and what were their thoughts

 

[seadog30]

Hi
My old Mac26 had weather helm that could pull your arm out of its shoulder !! which I think was common to the 26. Your Mac 27 may have fixed this.

Good luck

 

[dunkelly]

I know they lengthened the keels which would help but don't think they made any other significant alterations . My Genny is 130% do you remember what your 26 carried?

 

[C08]

I think the weather helm thing is over stated for the 26. My helm when I first had the boat needed a gorilla despite a long bowsprit and sail area well forward. I replaced the rudder with a semi balanced rudder (18%) as well as moving the rudder shaft tube to be more vertical (necessary to clear the prop) and the boat was transformed to finger light helming and a joy to sail.
The benefit of the bowsprit for me was having a cutter rig and two foresails downwind and more sail for light winds as they are quite heavy old boats.

 

[LittleSister]

I believe (from various comments read over the years) that there were criticisms of the weather helm on the Macwester 26, and the later 27 was tank-tested in the process of development (perhaps in part in response to the history), and was generally considered much improved over the 26 in this regard.

I imagine that the Macwester Owners' Association could provide advice both on the differences between the models, and the desirability/consequences of adding a bowsprit to extend forward the sail-plan.

 

[Wansworth]

You don’t want a bowsprit needlessly,the Mac 27 from all reports sails alright without ,maybe as one poster says the rudder could be improved

 

[dunkelly]

Thanks for your input . I think the idea of balanced rudder is something to look at but as she seems to behave I will can the idea of a bowsprit . I like the idea of a cutter rig though . One of the reasons for buying her was her weight/stiffness having moved down from an endurance 52 cutter rig it certainly gives the opportunity of the larger sail area for light airs .