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I've just replaced a hopelessly broken mast recently, and was wondering if some of the soon-to-be scrap aluminum (aluminium) couldn't be put to some constructive use. Here's a mockup of an idea for a Bowsprit that seems to have some merit in being somewhat proportionally sized to the overall bulk of the boat - visually at least. I could easily attach to the forward bow chainplate with a hinge that would fold upward if needed, and my only desire would be to fly a storm-sail or foil-type when desired.



Do you think it looks OK?
I'd put a white pvc plug in the outer end and replace the lower braces with rods and turnbuckles (ignore the upper blue bungees). The roller could stay in place to serve a deployed rode.
Problem is, what do I do with the anchor that won't fit anymore... I'd like things to look balanced, or nautical at least.

R.

I think it's a good use of the old mast and looks good too Ross. To my eye, it could be a bit longer though.
- B

One option. Skip the white PVC plug and just put a boxing glove on the end instead.
"Ramming speed".

The finger would have to be extended!

Wait what.

well what a about a Ketch Rig with a bowsprit , but a yawl rig will let u step the mizzen mast inside the motor well foot it would not be hard to make a bow mounting brkt for that sprit

or cut it up into 3 or 4ft sections & sell them too these guys who use their boats as Trawler cruisers

J

But still, what do you do with the anchor with a sprit like this? I've seen other sailboats with a hook or two suspended from the bow pulpit. Are we required to have one hooked up and ready to go at all times? Or could it be stowed and brought out when required. Sort of like the swim ladder thing.
I'm going to see if I can find a strong enough SS hinge to modify for attaching the tube to the chainplate bolts.

R.

I've got a bent mast I need to figure out what to do with as well.

I look at that as an opportunity to learn how to straighten a mast, you have nothing to lose. You might not be able to straighten this one, but the next one ( ) might not be bent so badly, and you will be able to "learn" from this one, it being the guinea pig.

-B.

mastreb wrote:I've got a bent mast I need to figure out what to do with as well.

I thought that, with a little bit of welding, a square frame of a swim platform could be constructed. One big enough to fold out of the way over the motor. You could run slugs in it to suspend a stand-able webbing that would tension against the hull when deployed. Just like a catamaran trampoline.
Compared to a simple tubing frame, it would probably appear too bulky.
I heard the mizzen mast call but didn't want the extreme extra complexity. Perhaps outriggers for a trimaran, but that would require an extra bent mast and two more hulls!

Change the boom over and moving that into an upper gaff rig, also begs the question...
R.