Show me your bowsprits!

Iain C

Iain C

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 Oct 2009
Messages
2,366
Visit site
I'm seriously considering a cruising chute for when the normal kite is a bit of a handful or I fancy sailing he angles downwind.

Having done a lot of skiff sailing I sheepishly suggested to my sailmaker that I put a sensible sized bowsprit on the boat (70's cruiser!), and rather than being laughed out of town I was told it was a really good plan.

Soooo...I'm planning on using a scrap piece of carbon fibre 18' skiff mast to make a removable bowsprit...similar in concept to the Selden job, although I suspect I will probably add a dyneema bobstay. Projected length will probably be about 800 mm from the stem head.

Has anyone done a "DIY" bowsprit, and if so, any tips or pictures? The bits I am most interested in are the inboard end fitting, where it's held to the deck, plus the ring (or alternative arrangement) at the stem head.

Thanks!
 
Can get you better pictures this weekend. Cornish Crabbers will sell any bits you need although you can have them made up.

Second picture shows bowsprit retractred, it has whisker lines either side and a bobstay below so you need to be able to attach four lines in total with the jib for this set up. The bowsprit is held by these lines into the sampost fitting with a drop nose pin to stop it coming out. Good idea to make it retracteable or fold up for marinas and or cheaper berthing charges.

The gaff has a longer bowsprit but that's OK I don't have issues ;)

IMG_2920.jpg


IMG_2912.jpg


IMG_2925.jpg


Give Matt a call Swallow Boats to check out his arrangement, he uses carbon for his masts but think the bowsprits are wood. His website has quite a few pics. The Bayraider Expedition has an entirely different set up and easy to replicate, nice boat, I like these a lot

http://www.swallowboats.com/bayraider-expedition



Wait for Dylan to come along with his 13' bowsprit :eek:
 
Last edited:
Not mine... :o
Old:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kTPVGDw91OEGK7Y3D2YuQ9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q-IO_Y89pqzAtrDT5Ty6gNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Modern:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PI603i-DkGYCBQU5E1qgo9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

and so on
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/t7LH84qcE9Tf8F76TJOY1tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

fitting detail (Cornish Crabber):
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pzgrNBd594-5VfsOJh_DftMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uvNbIsscOwyNqqF-GkNfKtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IDe_qIRcv0H22sruUrHKSdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_Keh6or57rq_sYtl-J9LrtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
 
Last edited:
Some great ideas guys...I have a few plans going round in my head and will report back soon!!
 
Right...took the plunge, rescued the old skiff mast, ordered the proper Selden bow ring fitting (just the easiest solution rather than bodging it) and of course, the big flappy go faster ripstop thingy.

I need to make the plugs to go into the ends of the pole, my plan is to run the tack line up the middle of the pole so ideally I'm looking for a plastic material that's fairly easy to turn, but won't melt instantly should the tackline accidentally run a bit and a bit of heat/friction are involved. Reasonable cost would be good too.

I used acetal on a rudder bearing...any tips people?
 
I read your first post as if you had a 70' cruiser and I was surprised that you could make your own bowsprit for this size. I have now read again that you have a cruisers from the 70's!

I have wondered about a bowsprit. I have been advised that carbon fibre is brittle and it is all too easy to damage it by rough handling.

I have a cruising chute and at present I have it in a snuffer and no sprit. However I am contemplating getting a furling system and for that I would need a sprit. The cost has put me off!

TudorSailor
 
If you are using an old skiff mast of any length you may need to add a Moth like Prodder or "Dolphin striker" to stop it bending upwards too much.

I tried using an old type windsurfer mast and it was useless without some additional support.

It is fine in compression when used as a Gin pole.

Does the Selden bow ring allow you to change the pole to an angle off the boat centre line? This would allow you to sail deeper off wind with the cruising kite.
 
Iain C said:
Right...took the plunge, rescued the old skiff mast, ordered the proper Selden bow ring fitting (just the easiest solution rather than bodging it) and of course, the big flappy go faster ripstop thingy.

I need to make the plugs to go into the ends of the pole, my plan is to run the tack line up the middle of the pole so ideally I'm looking for a plastic material that's fairly easy to turn, but won't melt instantly should the tackline accidentally run a bit and a bit of heat/friction are involved. Reasonable cost would be good too.

I used acetal on a rudder bearing...any tips people?
Click to expand...

We used the following type of fitting in the pole end.

http://www.rwo-marine.com/products/productdetail.php?code=R3034T

Commonly used on reefing lines into booms. You might have to taper your tack line to fit?

Use any structural plastic,turn a bung for your pole,drill a hole for the above part and Robert is a relative.:)

View attachment 29225
Not a cruising chute!
5' pole 36' luff 20' Foot on a 24' boat..........

You can tell I used to be a Moth sailor!
 
Last edited:
Iain C said:
Right...took the plunge, rescued the old skiff mast, ordered the proper Selden bow ring fitting (just the easiest solution rather than bodging it) and of course, the big flappy go faster ripstop thingy.

I need to make the plugs to go into the ends of the pole, my plan is to run the tack line up the middle of the pole so ideally I'm looking for a plastic material that's fairly easy to turn, but won't melt instantly should the tackline accidentally run a bit and a bit of heat/friction are involved. Reasonable cost would be good too.

I used acetal on a rudder bearing...any tips people?
Click to expand...
Barton make some high load rings. If you can turn down one side you could epoxy it into the end of the pole
Personally i would not use the selden ring for the sprit
Being a skiff man you will have seen the cloth type loops used for mainsheet or kicker to booms
These are softer on the carbon & spread the load
You could have had 2 made up by a sailmaker & screwed or bolted ( depends on load) them to the deck under stainless strips so they form a sort of inverted "u"
The sprit would then slide through
When not in use the cloth lays flat
 
I did something like this with my old E-Boat a few seasons ago...

Took the spinnaker pole, tied the centre of the pole down to the fairlead and the inboard end midships with a rope between holes in the toerail.

The tack of the (no.3 18' skiff rig) was tied to a tack outhaul passing through the outboard end of the hull. Obviously, the head of the sail went to the top of the mast. The clew was tied to the spinnaker sheets, through the ratchet blocks on the toerail at the stern.

And the boat went well. Very well... I only tried it in a 2-3, in the solent it gave me the fastest crossing from Priory Bay to Langstone entrance. I even flew it inside Langstone Harbour on one occasion but, like all assymetrics, it has limited angles downwind and I ended up having to take it down once I'd run aground...

Go for it; my 18' skiff spinnaker was the smallest we had (when we had a couple of old 18 footers) and it was a little generous for the E-Boat but don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't. Its an old sail and the Bank of New Zealand logo isn't what it was. Please remember to try it on a light day first though, and it made my E-Boat as responsive as our old 14 and 18; when you get a gust you'll have to bear away - it isn't a symmetrical spinnaker.

And please post the photos :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top