Gunter yard and boom in aluminium?

Marakei

Marakei

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I want to replace the gunter yard and boom on my Westerly 22.

I have a quote for wooden ones but would be interested in checking out aluminium replacements too.

I'm looking for the name of a company who might make them.

Metal won't look as nice as wood, but I like the idea of less maintenance, and also think that a lighter rig would be kinder to my boat's 51 year old hull.

I would be interested in carbon fibre, but although I haven't got a quote, it has a reputation for being very expensive.

Thanks for any advice.
 
Marakei said:
I want to replace the gunter yard and boom on my Westerly 22.

I have a quote for wooden ones but would be interested in checking out aluminium replacements too.

I'm looking for the name of a company who might make them.

Metal won't look as nice as wood, but I like the idea of less maintenance, and also think that a lighter rig would be kinder to my boat's 51 year old hull.

I would be interested in carbon fibre, but although I haven't got a quote, it has a reputation for being very expensive.

Thanks for any advice.
Click to expand...

If going aluminium easier to go Bermudan at the same time???

Saw this:

https://webcache.googleusercontent....el-yacht/1127005701+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

...perhaps advice could be found on the Westerly owners forum...??
 
Friends cruise extensively in their 13ft open hard chine dinghy. The rig is an aluminium gunter for moderate winds and a smaller area bermudan on the same mast if stronger.
The gunter spar has a pivoting slug that slides up in the same groove as the sail slides. ASFAIK the mast is a standard section, as is the yard. He built the rig himself some years ago.
I will mail him to ask for détails.

Just a thought, does Dylan Winter use ally spars on his Hunter? Have a look ar some of his vids.
 
Aluminium would have to be custom made and unlikely to be significantly lighter than wood. You can lighten wood by either making the spars hollow if big enough diameter or using spruce instead of fir. The weight of the boom is not a big issue as it is low down, and can't see any advantage in aluminium for that. To reduce weight of the yard, either using spruce or making it T shape rather than solid would reduce weight while maintaining stiffness. not sure why you think any reduction in weight would be kinder on the hul. It is a heavily built boat and the rig is low stress.

From a maintenance point of view using a porous woodstain such as Sikkens Cetol or International Woodskin will reduce the need for regular refinishing significantly. My wood mast was last stripped 15 years ago and has had only one refresher coat using Sikkens.
 
No lower limit to hollow spars all three of mine are birdsmouth construction and the yard is about 50mm at the jaws. Easy to make and light.
 
I use a carbon fibre spin pole which started life as a wind surfer mast which broke. I was fortunate to find a carbon fibre mast from a dinghy that had broken which gave me a very light weight boom. There are real advantages to a light weight boom one of which is the less inertia forces when gybing. Also kinder when it hits a head. So probably not cost effective to have a bespoke gaff or boom but worth looking around for broken stuff. good luck olewill
 
Thank you everyone for the helpful replies.

Converting to Bermudan and getting a rig for that would in some ways be the sensible choice, but I'd quite like to stick with the gunter.

I think I will go with the wooden spars, which are spruce, but ask if the yard can be made hollow as the current one is solid.

Seeing if a carbon fibre pole can be scavenged from somewhere is a good idea too.
 
When I had a gunter rigged W22 I added a bowsprit to fly a second headsail - not difficult, reduced weather helm and most importantly looked cute going down wind with the mainsail bouncing air into the genny and the genny bouncing it into the jib.
 
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