Rigging a Bermudan Cutter ........... How ?

[Reninportishead]

I have recently acquired a 1931 G.A. Feltham design Auxilary Bermudan Cutter. I've recently stripped out most of the old caulking and re-packed with cotton and red lead putty. She's back in the water now and doing very well (only a few minor leaks). Whilst getting the mast re-set this afternoon we came across a slight dilemma ....... how to rig the bowsprit ring or traveller ?
Does anyone have any pictures or diagrams that may help ?
There is a pulley mounted into the end of the bowsprit, and what looks like brass guides all along the underside of the bowsprit, but there doesn't seem a logical way of rigging it !
Any ideas out there would be great. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[cliffordpope]

Do you have the traveller? Basically just a hoop of metal suitably bigger than the bowsprit, covered in leather. There is an eye for attaching the jib, and also some means of attaching the rope used for hauling it in and out.

You need a continuous loop of rope, beginning and ending at the traveller, the outhaul running along the top of the bowsprit, down through the sheeve, along the underside, passing through a hole in the bulwark so that you don't lose the loop, then back along the top to the traveller again.

Attach and hoist the jib first, possibly with bits of weak strip material to keep it roughly furled. This helps keep the traveller the right way up and stops the ropes tangling. Then haul the traveller out to the end, and fasten the inboard loop, which should be big enough to have spare for attaching to a handy cleat.
Then adjust the halyard tension, and tug on the sheet when ready to break out the sail.

You may want the complication of a Wykham-Martin roller furling gear. The procedure is the same, but it becomes more important to tension the jib halyard to stop the W-M falling down under the bow sprit and getting tangled.

When you have got it rigged you may need to assess the lie of the ropes and re-route, depending on what else you have there - bobstay tackle, topmast forestay, bowsprit shrouds, and the route the W-M line takes.

 

[Mukes]

Here are a couple of photos of Bryher's bowsprit, (she's a 1935 Bermudan 4 ton cutter). There are however no brass guides on the underside, (or anywhere else), on the bowsprit.

Hope this helps!

 

[Reninportishead]

Many thanks guys, all makes sense to me ........ sort of !
The pics are very useful - I'll go across to the marina later this afternoon and take some pics to post. Do you know where I can get a new leather cover for the bowsprit ring ?

 

[Mukes]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you know where I can get a new leather cover for the bowsprit ring ?

[/ QUOTE ]

For suitable leather and all sorts of other classic marine stuff, try here:

http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/

 

[Reninportishead]

Thanks again ............... I should have thought of picking the brains of the forum long ago ........ instead I've taught myself a lot about clasic boats through trial and error mostly !
I really enjoyed the caulking though - got some fantastic caulking irons from Tradboats.com

 

[jon]

Excellent here for leather, could post it I guess.
http://www.boatleather.co.uk/

 

[Reninportishead]

Thanks Jon - looks a bit too posh for my Sunshine though ......... the bowsprit ring would be the best looking fitting on her !

 

[oldfrank]

I hope this isn't a statement of the obvious but often the most convenient way to get leather work replaced on a boat is to find a local saddler.