Bowsprit with Hinges?

[virginia boy]

My wife is not present to correct my grammer and punctuation so I'll just get the apologies over with now.

A Westsail 32 and some other boats have an extremely long bowsprit that is considered part of the LOA when renting space at a marina etc. and charged accordingly. I personaly think that that is just ridiculous! Robbery even! So last night I had an idea that a custom bowsprit could be made that has extremely heavy duty locking hinges installed close to the bow so that you could raise your bowsprit consequently knocking several feet off of the LOA and a few bucks off of your bill. Anyone ever hear of this being done?

[anjou]

There is one boat which can do this but I dont recall the make. I guess its not a quick job to just fold down the bowsprit as the staysail rigging needs detaching first.

[Talbot]

On monos, this has been done for centuries. Even the barges have the ability. However, they do not hinge, but slide backwards. There is a fitting right on the bow - normally a heavy hoop, which the bowsprit moves forward through. The forestay is mounted above this hoop. the appropriate rigging above , below, and to the sides of the bowsprit remain in place, but need some additional tension once the bowsprit is rigged.

Some Catamarans do have a folding bowsprit (very short), which is used for a reacher. Normally made from carbon fibre, aluminium, or a mix of both

[Blue Stocking]

Talbot,
You can see lots of those barges with retractable bowsprits racing on Wed. night club races. They fly assymetricals. Sorry guys, could not resist it.

[Starbuck]

Yeah, some slide, some swing on a hinge.

What a wonderful little yacht this one is:

Cornish Crabber Pilot Cutter 30

Shouldn't bee too hard to build, depending on your standing rigging plan.

[Talbot]

I had forgotten that some of the barges hinged their bowsprit - the shame of it, as I used to live in Maldon Essex, not more than 200 yds from where the barges used to moor.

Here is a picture of The Dawn , clearly showing the bowsprit hinged up

[Jolly Roger]

Talbot got in first and took the words right out of my mouth. All I can add is the hoops he mentions are called crans irons, and depending on the sprit length, there would normally need to be two, secured to the stem head and sampson posts. The bowsprit is then called a jib boom, and is run out with the aid of twin tackles each side, which wedge it into the crans irons and also tension the stays, bobstay or sprit shrouds.
like most things on ships, it’s been done before, and I think everyone should have one.

[barnakiel]

I have seen plenty that slide - probably easier to to because the waterstay and the sidestays can remain attached.

b.

[Eleven]

Marina's charge for overall length, which is why demountable are still in use.
Fixed is cheaper and lighter and of no use and quite expensive in the marina.

[SkiprJohn]

I saw a huge bowsprit on a hinge in Monaco the last time I was there (mid 80s). Very doable system.
regards

[Efraim]

Here's a good example of a sliding bowsprit, a small version, but you get the idea. There are lots of ways to skin this cat, a retracting bowsprit isn't a new or novel idea.

[jimellifritt]

Hello,
The Lord Nelso Cutter 41 1983 in Gig Harbor WA, has the hinged bow spit. I was just on the boat. The hinge bolt was stainless 3/4-1". The end was capped with stainless at the meting point. These is a cable that runs to the bow. This is a cutter rig. The owner sailed over all the world with it.
Jim

[DrivinSteve]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

Talbot,
You can see lots of those barges with retractable bowsprits racing on Wed. night club races. They fly assymetricals. Sorry guys, could not resist it.

Rod Johnstone is expanding his market!

[Nemo55]

Yes, that cornish girl is lovely no doubt!!

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Yeah, some slide, some swing on a hinge.

What a wonderful little yacht this one is:

Cornish Crabber Pilot Cutter 30

Shouldn't bee too hard to build, depending on your standing rigging plan.

[virginia boy]

Hahahaa! You dragged this one out from waay back! I hadn't even bought my boat at the time I started this thread. Now that I have one (with a bowsprit) I kind of like my bowsprit as it is. Eric