hinged/shipped bowsprits?

[mbogo]

I've done some searching, but can't find anything very good on this topic. I'm considering a boat with a good-sized bowsprit, but I'd like to be able to fold it up (sideways?) with a hinge type arrangement or have some other method of shipping it to save on slip fees, etc. Why pay the slip fee for a 40' boat when it's really only 37' long, for example?

I have read a few things about this, but can't find any drawings or detail pics that show how the arrangement works, especially getting the bobstay/whisker stays properly tight each time the sprit is reset. Any references, working drawings, diagrams, etc would be great. Thanks in advance!

[Bob Cleek]

Check out John Leather's excellent book, "Gaff Rig." I believe it is now out in paperback and available through the WB store.

A hinged bowsprit is not workable, really. The way it is done is to have a samson post or "bit" on the foredeck centerline, with another next to it to starboard. The heel of the bowsprit is set between these two bits. The bowsprit runs across the bow to starboard of the stem, at an angle such that the end of the bowsprit is on the centerline of the boat. When the sprit is shipped, the pin or mechanism holding the heel is released and the sprit pulled inboard aft. As it is mounted at an angle, the heel will pass the mast to starboard. There are a variety of ways to set up the whisker stays and jib stays, as well as the tack arrangements. You'll see options for that in Leather's book.

Actually, if you are considering building a boat, and you want this feature, you should find a design that features it.

[Ronin NW]

Also check out "Hand Reef and Steer" by Tom Cunliffe, it's got good drawings and diagrams.

There's a boat here in Puget Sound with such an arrangement named Silva Bans, but it was a retro-fit situation. An excerpt from the owner: "To reduce moorage costs and ease docking I rigged the bowsprit to hoist up, but it still makes the marina owner nervous."
http://www.woodenboat.org/festival/Guide/Guide%20images/2004/Silva-Bans.jpg
I've been on the boat and the bowsprit looks pretty solid. I know there's a block and tackle bobstay and the jibsay is on a traveller (to use the British terminology, to run out along the bowsprit), but don't recall their whisker situation. I wouldn't know how to get you in touch, but they're somewhere in Tacoma and always show to the Pt. Townsend festival.

Here's more details on the boat: http://www.woodenboat.org/festival/Guide/2004/guide_silva-bans.htm

Good luck.
-Scott

[Bayboat]

Mbogo: Between Leather and Cunliff there's enough information for you to rig a bowsprit that runs out and is retractable. I certainly wouldn't hoist it up the mast..ask anyone who has wrestled a spinnaker pole stored that way. And with a hinge it will be weak at best unless you have a complicated set of bolts to hold it down. In any case you'll need a strong bobstay. I'd follow Mr Cleek's advice on this. However, before committing I'd consider whether or not it's worth it just to save a few bucks on your berthing fee. Have a thought for other advantages, or any disadvantages of this rig.

[mbogo]

Thanks for the info. This is not something set in stone - just a feature I'm pondering as I look for plans. I'd heard of it, but never seen it in practice, so was just lacking enough information to make a decision. I'll look at the references provided. Have a great weekend!

[PVanderwaart]

Phil Bolger designed a schooner of about 40' with a fold-up bowsprit. I tend to think it's one of those things that is a lot easier to handle at the design stage than as a retrofit.

The British cutters of the mid-19th century had running bowsprits. They set one sail to the stem, and another to the sprit, which is the origin of the idea that a cutter has two headsails. The American boats of the time were called sloops, had a fixed sprit, and set only the one jib, which was led to the notion that a sloop has only one headsail. All those boats set flying jib topsails, in addition.

[JimD]

Dudley Dix uses a hinged bowsprit on their 19 and 21ers:


The genoa furler has no stay in front of it, so the hinged bowsprit can be folded back to lie along the deck when not in use, if preferred by the crew. The bowsprit can also be used as a lever to assist in pulling the mast up into position for sailing, although it is easily raised by two people without use of the bowsprit for leverage.
Note that there is no forestay on the bowsprit, for obvious reasons.

[David W Pratt]

Zillions of J boats and their ilk use housing bowsprits to fly asymmetrical spinakers.
FWIW
Good luck.

[Dave Hadfield]

A bowsprit that folds up (often plank-style, not pole-style) is pretty common in France, and other parts of Europe. It's a natural with a double-headstay rig. The bobstay can take the form of a cable to a winch.

It shouldn't be too hard to design and build. A wide, strongly-made plank unit doesn't need side-bracing until the boat becomes quite large.

I've got a long-ish trailerable boat in the back of my mind that'll have one.