Bowsprit Repairs

[Jasper & Karen]

When we first bought the boat, our 'sprit didn't look too bad, but some telltale soft spots around the fittings suggested we should take a closer look.

It turned out that the paint was hiding a very large rot problem--looks like water penetrated around the overtightened fittings and then ran along the lamination, seriously compromising the bowsprit. Lucky for us we'd never had a decent breath of wind that year...

We chose rough-cut Douglas fir, 8/4 x 6", with tight grain (see the piece that surprised us with some open grain after we planed it). We laminated 4 pieces with epoxy. The 'ears' were added after the nose was shaped by hand.

We dry-fitted the mast and took new measurements before adding the ears.

Ears added, we treated the whole thing with penetrating epoxy first, then primed and painted with 3 coats of Brightside.

Installation, April 2, 2008, required a little persuasion! The mast had slouched a bit and it was difficult to reattach the forestay.

We cleaned up and reused the pulpit, but replaced the expanded metal decking with teak.

When that was done, we had a professional rigger install our new Harkin roller furling and tune all of the stays and shrouds. (He was also kind enough to remove, as he put it, "an entire ecosystem" from the spreaders while he was up there. At last, I can kick back on Cleopatra's Couch and admire all our handiwork without saying, "S#$t; the spreaders are filthy.")

[Justine]

Our bow sprit needs redone so your photos and any advice would be greatly appreciated. It isn't that is is rotten but spongy. I have a strange feeling when we pull it ff the under side will show a little more than we thought.

[Jasper & Karen]

Anything you need, Justine--the only thing to tell you before you start is to take measurements six ways from Sunday before you move anything; the bowsprit is actually shaped somewhat throughout its length.
Ours just seemed spongy, too--the paint was intact everywhere before we removed the pulpit, but when that came off, we were in shock to see how bad it was.

I know you're quite skilled at this work, but if Jasper can help with any further instructions, he'll be pleased to dictate while I type:)

[bob mitchell]

Great job. Any insight into your decision to replace roller reefing, or install the kind you did?

[Jasper & Karen]

The roller furling was an addition rather than replacement, dictated by our ages, the fact that we sail shorthanded and it's easier. And we could fly a larger genny if we could furl it to come about, an important point in our light summer winds. We chose a Harken Mark II Cruising model after looking at everything on offer. Some of the things we liked about it included the bearings, which are not sealed and can be cleaned easily with a freshwater spray--seems like they'll last longer with less maintenance. It wasn't the cheapest, but seemed like good value for the money. It also permits reefing, when used with a properly designed sail. That's about all I can recall about that choice! We'd have liked to have the model with twin tracks, but that was getting quite pricey. We were really happy with the Harken on our trips this year.

While getting the roller furling installed, we also put on a spinnaker block and halyard in the hope of finding an asymmetric somewhere. Nothing yet.