Rigging Modification - Good or Bad Idea?

[ShayW]

In our boat search we came across a 36 Cabot that we have had our eye on.
While looking at this picture we noticed the rigging has been changed from the original. They added a bow sprit extension and moved the forestay out on to the bowsprit.
The concern is this. In a typical bowsprit the sprit extends aft and mounts on deck. This new configuration does not do that and it seems like there is potential for failure at the pivot point at the anchor rollers.
Is using tubular steel attaching to the hull under the deck to hull joint sufficient? is seems there would be unintended load transferred to the forestay and then the mast?
Every other Cabot we have seen does not have a bowsprit.
Thoughts? Are we over thinking this?

See attached photo.

[Kettlewell]

I have seen it done, and it depends on getting the engineering right. There would have to be substantial reinforcement where the bow pulpit/sprit connects to the hull, and where the bobstay fitting connects. I personally don't like the idea of carrying two heavy anchors out there on the end, but you could easily remedy that storage situation. You might want to have someone look at it who is more than a surveyor--possibly a professional boatbuilder or a naval architect.

[sailr69]

not much load on that bowsprint. it acts like the spreader on a mast. the forestay load is on the bobstay.as long as it is well attached to the stem and the bowsprint is firmly attached as well. it will work fine.

[haw1961]

That is not a very good configuration. Your concerns are justified. That being said, it is not a huge job to rectify the situation.

[sailvayu]

It appears they left the original fore stay tang intact so guess that is good. It also looks like maybe they did this to accommodate the somewhat sketchy looking windlass installation. A system like this is just that a system. Many parts to it, attachment to deck, bob stay, bob stay tang, and so on. I would want to carefully inspect the whole thing and then make a judgment. The concept is not bad just have to evaluate the execution. It could also have some effect on sailing performance or helm feel as it will change the balance of the sail area somewhat.

[roverhi]

The bowsprit looks typical of Stainless Steel sprits. The good old wood bowsprit needed to be bolted to the deck to take the compression load, SS allows you to go to the side of the hull and it's theoretically strongest point.

Having said the above, all the junk that they bolted/welded on looks very cluttered and adds unnecessary weight.

Sprits are added to a boat to increase sail area without going to a taller mast and/or to cure a weather helm problem. Have seen it done to a number of boats both by the manufacturers and owners. The Bristol 39-40 was originally marketed without a bowsprit. The factory added a SS bowsprit in it's final years of production to increase performance and to allow for the variety of sail configurations of a double headsail rig.

[FSMike]

The ones I have seen that I liked were of a piece, all welded together.
I wouldn't care to have one that had any bolted together parts.

[ShayW]

Thanks for your input. Sounds like I need to evaluate the ground tackle system, the execution of the bowsprit and how it effected performance. I do appreciate having the venue!

[model 10]

Getting the anchor in front of the bob stay is pretty darn nice. Dealing with chafe from the stay is a bother. Does seam like you could move the anchor back quite a bit though.

[zeehag]

chafe and anchor forward of bobstay are problems solved by the rollers on sprit and the bridle one uses for snubbing chain while at anchor

is there a deck mounting also, or hull only?

[model 10]

Originally Posted by zeehag

chafe and anchor forward of bobstay are problems solved by the rollers on sprit and the bridle one uses for snubbing chain while at anchor

is there a deck mounting also, or hull only?

Tell me how if you have your rode behind the head and bob stay you don't have problems with chafe on the bob stay? The only way I know of is to have your snubber run down to the water line and attach to the bob stay lower fitting and run through a block on the end of the bow sprit.. That works well but you have no way to adjust the length of your snubber. The problem of chain rubbing on the stay could be delt with. Using plastic pipe on the bob stay seem like a poor looking soultion.

[zeehag]

rarely does my snubber bridle chafe with my bobstay--my roller, from which my chain falls, is on my sprit, forward of the pointy end, - and the deck end of the snubber goes thru my hawse holes, forward of my bits/sampson post, where my anchor chain is secured.....i use a bridle as it makes the yawing minimal, and keeps the chain away from the bobstay, and is at almost the same level as my lower bobstay fitting...so both sides of bridle are forward of the bobstay, and the chain is below the bobstay fitting by a couple of inches. when wind is blowing, the chain stretches out with the bridle so it is not anywhere near my bobstay, and there is zero strain on my sprit, as the rope i use for bridle passes thru each side of the bow

if you can find a formosact/hardin sea wolf near you, is easy to see the rig. all three of the boats i mentioned have same anchor and sprit set up as do i--our only differences would be in choice of snubbing rig


if your sprit is also mounted on deck, as well as on your hull, it is good. if there is no deck mount, there is more stress on rig, as the rig is what is supporting it, with some assist from the hull mounted hardware.

there is nothing between the bobstay and the boat hull except the dolphin striker.
. all chain and snubber line are on the far side of the sprit from the bow, away from the boat, and half way to the jib, which is mounted on the end of the bowsprit, which, on my boat, is about 8 ft in length

[model 10]

Originally Posted by zeehag

rarely does my snubber bridle chafe with my bobstay--my roller, from which my chain falls, is on my sprit, forward of the pointy end, - and the deck end of the snubber goes thru my hawse holes, forward of my bits/sampson post, where my anchor chain is secured.....i use a bridle as it makes the yawing minimal, and keeps the chain away from the bobstay, and is at almost the same level as my lower bobstay fitting...so both sides of bridle are forward of the bobstay, and the chain is below the bobstay fitting by a couple of inches. when wind is blowing, the chain stretches out with the bridle so it is not anywhere near my bobstay, and there is zero strain on my sprit.

if your sprit is also mounted on deck, as well as on your hull, it is good. if there is no deck mount, there is more stress on rig, as the rig is what is supporting it, with some assist from the hull mounted hardware.

How do you bring up your anchor without without the chain rubbing on the bob stay on a windy day? If the boat swings around in circles and is over you rhode, where are your snubbers touching?

[barnakiel]

Looks perfectly stable to me. The only force on the bowsprit is compression. If all the elements are strong and sound, I would feel safe as home.

b.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Guy

How do you bring up your anchor without without the chain rubbing on the bob stay on a windy day? If the boat swings around in circles and is over you rhode, where are your snubbers touching?

usually on a windy day i remain at anchor, unless is a furycame , at which time it is marina slip time.
when the wind is blowing, it usually exceeds the tidal current in speed, so boat generally faces into the wind. as the anchor windlass raises the anchor, the boat travels toward the anchor via the chain. i use no rope rode, i use all chain rode. my snubber is a separate single bit of line made into a snubber with a chainhook, and the bitter ends go thru my hawse. raising anchor is not a problem, nor is setting anchor.
as i use a single line for my bridle, there is a knot in middle for the chainhook. each end of the bridle goes into a hawse--there is one on my port side and one on my stbd side.

my snubber doesnt touch the boat except at the hawse and bits, nor does it touch the bobstay