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Old 15-09-2013, 15:23   #1
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Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

Has anyone added a bowsprit to a Catana 431 ? or similar boat.
What cost and effort is involved and is the advantage of being able to fly a screecher or code zero worth it?
tks
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Old 15-09-2013, 18:09   #2
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Hello I added a bowsprit to a catana 411. I fly a code 0 from north sales the cost of the synthetic sail was about 8000. The pole was about 1000 the labor for the pad eyes wa about 1500. However the sail does add a lot of speed from65 degrees to about 110 degrees
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Old 15-09-2013, 18:14   #3
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

Give some thought to your anchoring gear.
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Old 15-09-2013, 18:21   #4
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I use the stock anchoring gear. The bridle rides up front of the cables. I had to add extra chafing gear where the bridle rides on the wires supporting the pole
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Old 15-09-2013, 19:01   #5
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

If you build one yourself, the cost is whatever you pay for the materials.

b.
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Old 16-09-2013, 20:26   #6
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

just install a retractable spinnaker sprit.


Catalina Direct: Cruising Spinnaker Retractable Bowsprit Kit
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Old 17-09-2013, 06:09   #7
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

Thanks for the info -
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Old 17-09-2013, 12:40   #8
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage



As you see, the pole is about 4 feet or so, hinged at the center of the fwd x-beam. There are martingales, wire or textile, run down to the bows. You can either reach in the bows and install eyes and backing plates or drill completely through the bows, epoxy in a carbon fibre tube, and use textile loops as eyes.

it's not really that difficult to fab up. Look at the "old" Catana Yahoo list, search for Charlie Ogletree's description on how he did the thing
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Old 17-09-2013, 19:31   #9
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

Gotcha!...Thanks good ideas. I'm surprised Catana don't already have the bow fittings in place?
I really like the idea of improving light air performance - all cats should have sprits!
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Old 18-09-2013, 10:12   #10
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

all cats should, unless they're in charter, then it's probably a rather bad idea.
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Old 24-09-2013, 18:48   #11
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

It's a great mod for cats, we used ours all the time in Mexico. Forespar makes a kit, it's simple to install. Couple of padeyes, the fitting on the front crossbeam, boom. We made our articulating, no worries for extra marina fees or for ground tackle.
Couldn't recommend it more. Great performance improvement, and at the angles/conditions you want to sail in.
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Old 25-09-2013, 01:29   #12
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

Quote:
Originally Posted by Camelot47 View Post
Has anyone added a bowsprit to a Catana 431 ? or similar boat.
What cost and effort is involved and is the advantage of being able to fly a screecher or code zero worth it?
tks
First up I have no connection with this boat or the site, just easier to link it than posting pix.
There are 3-4 good pix showing his setup of a folding sprit.
Catamaran 2001 Custom Design Crowther 462 461 Catamaran For Sale

What I have read on another site is that the owner [Stephen Sharp] thinks it is well worth having a folding sprit.

Cheers,
Mac
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Old 29-09-2013, 15:22   #13
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Re: Adding a Bowsprit~ cost vs advantage

found the post from Ogletree in regards sprit installation on his 401:

"Hi Guys,

I installed a 5' x 6" Carbon bowsprit on the front beam of my 401. I use is for a Code 0 with a Vectran luff rope on a Facnor continuous line furler. I also use the sprit for an asymmetrical spinnaker. The sprit works great.

The sprit has a Delrin plug on the inboard in with a hole in the center. I have a mainsail boom gooseneck fitting mounted on the front beam with a male prod fitting that the pole slides onto. The compression of the pole keeps it on and it is easy to remove when needed.

I had holes drilled through the bows just above the waterline and a G-10 tube glassed in from the inside. This area was reinforced and faired. To access this from the inside we put inspection plates forward inside the bow lockers. The Spectra martingale lines are simply spliced through these tubes; very clean, light and no metal. This is how mosy bobstays are installed on race boats.

In regards to sheeting the Code 0, I also use the symmetrical spinnaker sheets, but I use a twing/barberhaul system to pull the sheet down when sailing broad angles. This is like moving the lead foward to make the sail more efficient. This allows a wide range of sailing angles with a Code 0.

For the halyard I installed a masthead halyard. This gives a lot of extra sail area for light air upwind and light to medium air reaching.

I work for sail designer and racer for Ullman Sails so I have a lot of experience with these types of sails. They are a huge improvement in performance and well worth it.

Regards,
Charlie Ogletree
Catana 401 "Kaya""
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