Bowsprit

[paulmw]

Me again..posted seperately so as not to confuse threads...<br /><br />As I refinish my 18' fibregalss sailing dinghy, I was thinking of adding a bowsprit to give me more sail area...and because I like the look! Anybody have any opinions on adding a bowsprit? Is it likely to unbalance/improve points of sail? (I have this dream of a mini-cutter rig!)

 

[BillP]

Re: Bowsprit

It will move your center of effort (CE)and may hurt pointing. Increasing the mainsail size or raking the mast is the most common cure. Get a copy of Skene's Elements of Yacht Design and it is throughly explained in layman's terms and with math.

 

[baba]

Re: Bowsprit

What kind of boat is it? It sounds small to have a bowsprit. Is it a Mariner? Those are perfect they way they are. A Mercury? All those little sloops have little jibs. A little Sharpie has a useful jib, but that doesn't sound like your boat. Is your boat gaff-rigged? That other fella is probably right about changing the balance and the boat's ability to point. As long as you don't remove the footing for the original forstay, you could try it and if you don't like it, just saw it off.

 

[Columbia]

Re: Bowsprit

Balance of a sailboat in steering can be delicate. It has to do with the "lead" (pronounce 'leed', as opposed to lead) of the Center of Effort of the sails in relation to the Center of Lateral Resistance of the underbody of the hull including, in your case, the centerboard. This lead is described as a percentage in relationship to the Load Water Line of the boat. The net result is Weather Helm or Lee Helm. Weather helm causes a boat to round up if the tiller is let go when beating. Lee helm, the most dangerous kind, allows the boat to drift off almost uncontrollably under certain circumstances. If you don't fully understand those terms and the interrelationship among them, don't change your CE by adding a bowsprit. Of if you need a bowsprit for looks or ramming speed, add one but don't move the forestay of the boat, leave it where it is.

 

[paulmw]

Re: Bowsprit

Thanks for the post, Old (but wise) sailor. I intuited there may be an issue with moving the C of Effort, but didn't know the terms until now. Part of me reason to restore this dinghy is to learn...I am already doing that.<br /><br />In answer to a previous I was looking at a bowsprit because (a) aesthetics, and (b) wanted to build (har har) experience in cutter rigs. The boat has no jib now, so maybe I'll just play around with adding a jib from polytarp to experiment...get a feel for the weather help before I sc**w it up.<br /><br />Good dialogue - thanks. Any additional comments welcome. And I'll get that book also....

 

[Columbia]

Re: Bowsprit

Sounds like a good plan. What holds up your mast? Three stays, one forward, two slightly aft of the mast? If you have a forestay your jib can hank right onto that, couple sheets led aft and you're ready to rock and roll.

 

[flashback]

Re: Bowsprit

I did just what you are talking about to a 21' venture. added 3and a half feet of bow sprit and an extra stay and sail. this boat had a swing keel. the added sail did change handleing a bit but not objectionable, give it a shot

 

[ED21]

Re: Bowsprit

Actual cutter rigs (w/ 2 foresails) are a real pain to tack. I would keep it sloop rigged even if you add bow sprit.