Adding a bowsprit to a sailboat

[jackmharrill]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone would care to comment on adding a bowsprit to a sailboat. The boat is a Macgregor V22. Since this has been a project boat, I am as interested in just doing the work as in any potential gains that it might give us. For anyone that might have done this type modification, I would certainly welcome your insights.<br /><br />I am planning a short 3-4 foot bowsprit with the capacity to carry the forward anchor. As I have removed the v-berth for replacement purposes, I am also adding a small bulkhead in the bow that should allow us to install a chain locker. <br /><br />I realize that the boat might not be financially worth all the work, but am using this as an educational project for both me and my son. Hopefully, with good guidance and proper installation, we will have a stronger, better boat when we put her in the water.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Jack Harrill<br />jackmharrill@hotmail.com

 

[ED21]

Re: Adding a bowsprit to a sailboat

I would think about having to reach out 3 or 4' in order to use the anchor.<br />I've seen many bow mounted anchors on both sailboats & powerboats. There are any number of ways to do this.<br />For that size boat a smallish dansforth anchor is faily easy to mount a number of ways, including clipped to the bow pulpit.<br />I think what you describe may be more trouble than you realize.<br />I'm all for modifying the boat for your needs, especially when a project with the kids.

 

[jackmharrill]

Re: Adding a bowsprit to a sailboat

From a financial perspective, it makes no sense at all to add the bowsprit to this boat. <br /><br />It seems like a simple project. You have to add a bobstay and its anchoring point to the bow of the boat just above the waterline. Then you have to put on the bowsprit itself. Once the bobstay is connected, you can then run an outer stay to the top of the mast. The only other part of the project is to anchor the bowsprit to the deck of the boat. I realize that this is a little over simplified, and we are planning a good bit of strengthing with epoxy and glass as we progress on this, but it just seems like a neat project for a sloop rigged boat.

 

[flashback]

Re: Adding a bowsprit to a sailboat

jack, why do you want the sprit to be so long? If all you are using it for is a place to hang an anchor, you don't need the stays. Just fashion it out of a 2x6 about 30 inches long and let half of it stick out beyond the bow then bolt it down to the deck with a good backing plate...On the other hand, if you are converting into a cutter rig, well that's a different story...then you will need new head stays, standing rigging, and a bobstay..in addition to re-cutting your existing sails or new sails and moving the mast..good luck

 

[jackmharrill]

Re: Adding a bowsprit to a sailboat

Thanks for that thought. Is there any reason why you can't or shouldn't run a bowsprit on a sloop rig. I understand about the new stay for the bowsprit and the bobstay. It seems to me that it might make for better light wind performance to be able to run a larger genoa or a drifter on the forward stay. I was kinda hoping that someone might have tried this modification since it seems fairly simple. I have not done it yet, but am going to install the anchor for the bobstay probably at the end of this week. I have actually lifted the top off the boat in order to add some bulkheads to the hull. All has gone almost too well at this point. It has been a fun project if nothing else.<br />Thanks again for your thoughts,<br />Jack

 

[flashback]

Re: Adding a bowsprit to a sailboat

There was a fella I new once who put a sprit on a 28 ft Oday but it never did sail very well. Changing the rig will effect the center of effort and in his case, caused a bunch of weather helm. When you extend the bowsprit out there 4 feet, it in effect, is like lengthing the rig without lengthing the boat to match..That being said, a naval engineer could change a few things like mast location, keel location, mainsail area VS head sail area, etc.. You get the picture, there are some defined formulas that determine these things... If you do it and get lucky, the boat may sail better but probably not...good luck