Any suggestions on where to find a inexpensive ( as in cheap) bow sprit? In the perfect world it would be removable and carbon fiber, but open to ideas.
Thanks,
Sirtackalot
Roy
Bow Sprit
(20 posts) (8 voices)-
DonKeyHoTey
MemberHow long does it need to be? If relatively short, and depending on how it will marry to the boat, a wishbone windsurfer boom would be stiff and might be relatively easily attached/detached. It would also probably have a turning block already built into the pointy end. Or perhaps just some square section aluminum tubing like they use for cheap mailbox posts? -Per
Posted 8 years ago # -
teak
MemberSo does that mean you bought an asymmetrical spiniker. little strength needed if you use stays. My sail maker has some fiberglass antenna poles he was going to give me but my sail came with a pole. they are 2 to 3 inches in diamiter and 6 to 10 feet long, tappered.
does spell check not work?
Posted 8 years ago # -
DonKeyHoTey
MemberA key issue is the structural characteristics of your tri's bow area where you'd be mounting the prod. My hunch is that the foredeck is not particularly well reinforced, so bolting the inboard end of the prod to the center of the foredeck is probably not ideal. I'm wrestling with the same issue of installing a prod on my old Lightning. I'm strongly considering using the outboard x feet of an old sailboard wishbone boom and bolting it to the lip of the deck where it meets the hull, then rigging a downhaul to the bow eye as Ridgerunner suggests. A wooden bracket under the lip may help to marry the prod to the hull. Note that this approach would keep the foredeck clear, keeps the prod out of the way of the forestay and jib tack, and gives you a nice rigid mount for your bow navigation light. It should result in a very strong but light prod for the assy -- rigid both laterally and vertically, and hopefully easily unbolted for trailering etc. -Per
Posted 8 years ago # -
Ridgerunner
MemberYou could make a fiberglass tube just a little larger than the bowsprit. That would support the inboard portion well. SOS and Roo both did something similar for their retracting bowsprits. This phone won't work well for blog search, but I'll bet DWSB or SOS documented their installation.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Sirtackalot
MemberOK guys, how about this. Take a tapered carbon fiber mast like a old windsurfer. Put a "U" bolt forward on the bow and bolt that through the deck with padding below deck. So when I launch, I slide the bow sprit through the U bolt, and bolt the in board end to the mast base. I think that would be a easy on and off. Then I guess the question would be if I need a downhaul to the eye bolt for trailoring. Thoughts?
Second part of the question, aluminium spinnaker poles from a laser, strong enough or not?
Posted 8 years ago # -
DonKeyHoTey
MemberHow big an assy are you planning, and how far off the bow will its tack be? If neither is excessive, the windsurfer mast should be plenty strong, if a little bendy, so you may want to have a way to downhaul it to the bow-eye while it's deployed. Not sure you need a downhaul while trailering, as long as it stays in the U-bolt or perhaps you remove it completely?
Rather than going through your deck with the U-bolt, maybe you could mount the U-bolt (or bracket?) to a ply or aluminum plate that lies on the deck and then bolt that to the deck/hull flanges (say, 2 bolts per side)?
Laser spin pole?? Laser has no pole; Laser 2 has a pole, but without first-hand knowledge of it I'm guessing it's too skinny seeing as the Laser 2 spinnaker is only 110 sf.
-Per
Posted 8 years ago # -
Sirtackalot
MemberI found a 1/2 length Windsurfer mast that will work perfect. Has a base on it that I can bolt to the deck and about a 2' adjustment on it. I may be able to even leave it mounted all teh time and just move it out as needed. Will know this weekend. The question now will be if I need side stays like teak mentioned. Should be about 99% finished this weekend with the the upgrades............
Posted 8 years ago # -
Bsd has mast sections that you can lock in place or together with fast pins.
Maddave
Posted 8 years ago # -
MicroTom
Key Master -
Sirtackalot
MemberLets try Shutterfly link. The bow sprit is the bottom half of a windsurfer mast. It is attached to a "sleeve" that would normally be bolted to the windsurfer. The sleeve extends into the windsurfer mast/bow sprit about 2' feet. I have turned it and bolted it to the the deck of the boat. Then forward I have put a "U" boat through the deck. The bow sprit slides through the "U" bolt so can be removed easily. I have rigged a down haul for the sail on the top of the sprit ( not in the pictures). I will be rigging down a down haul and side guides just to be safe and make sure the bow sprit stays where its supposed to.....
Sirtackalot
Posted 8 years ago #
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