fixing a snapped bowsprit

[fjalt]

Bowsprit was snapped off very close to bow of the boat. Can it be scarfed back together and what would be the best way to go about it. The boat is a 30 foot cutter with an eight foot bowsprit.

[Captain Intrepid]

Under what kind of conditions did the bowsprit snap? Cause you really have to ask if you did that, what'd stop it from snapping again?

[TerryLL]

Is it rotten? Was there an accident? Age? Type of wood? Particulars about the boat? Photos perhaps?

[fjalt]

The bowsprit is fir. Its not rotten and is only about eight years old. what happened is that the boat broke free from a mooring and drifted under a dock and pounded for quite awhile. I'll try to get picture.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Also, was it cross-grained, and was it that it caused it to break?

I once repaired a flagpole that was shattered (yes, that's the correct word) when dropped because the grain ran right out of it over about five feet -- whereas a straight-grained spar suffering the same treatment would have been undamaged.

Mike

[TerryLL]

The fact that it's fir and still sound is good news if you're contemplating a repair. However, I'd be inclined start from scratch with a new timber. Where in the world are you? Do you have access to DF of the right dimension to build a new one.

[Woxbox]

Yeah, if you scarf it you'll be forever nervous about it. I'd make up a new one for peace of mind. The old stub has gotta be good for something. Need new spreaders?

[fjalt]

I'm in Washington State but the boat I'm looking at buying is in the Boston area, so I'll have to travel back east and find a yard to work on the boat, it also has a broken bulwork, mast spreaders and the deck has to be refinished. Plus, the deadwood is pretty beat up and will probably have to be fixed.
So, I've never made a bowsprit, is it difficult.

[TerryLL]

Again, hard to say what kind of job it might be without seeing photos. It might be quite simple, might not. Probably best to get advice from someone in the Boston area who can look at the boat, the bowsprit, all the connecting bits, and asses the stresses involved.

[Woxbox]

OK, now you have us all wondering about a lot of things. What, exactly, happened to this boat? And are you sure that's a complete list of the problems?

As to the bowsprit, depends entirely what you've done before with wood. Having the broken one for a pattern simplifies things a lot, though.

[BBSebens]

where abouts in washington state are you? theres a bunch of us in and around puget sound.

[fjalt]

Ok, I'll have to get some pictures but I about convinced that a new bowsprit is the way to go. thanks for the help

[fjalt]

Right now I'm residing in Ellensburg, WA. The boat I'm looking at buying is a Bristol Channel Cutter but its over in the Boston area and so I'll have to go over there to get it seaworthy again. I plan on taking it down the intercoastal waterway and then eventually through the Panama Canal and up the West Coast but first there is alot of work to do and a lot of learning about sailing.

[RFNK]

The Enterprize from Melbourne broke her bowsprit on the way to the Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart, Tasmania, a couple of weeks ago. The text below is from the Enterprize website. The bowsprit looks like it was also fir. Rick

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr69/rfnk/Enterprise.jpg

Planning of the 27 metre vessel began in 1989. Her keel was laid at the Polly Woodside Maritime Museum in 1991 and she was completed in the old Ports and Harbour’s yard at Williamstown. The 2.5 million dollar vessel was launched by Felicity Kennett on Sat. 30 August 1997 at Hobson’s Bay. Enterprize is an all timber carvel planked, two masted, topsail schooner. She has been traditionally constructed using Australian grown timbers, including Jarrah, Huon Pine, Kauri, Celery Top Pine and Ironbark - much of it recycled. Her masts are local Californian Redwood. Her sails are hand-sewn flax, her rigging tarred hemp.

[Jay Greer]

Redwood is light. But, it is also very brittle. In addition, the tannins in the wood are very hard on metals. In my humble opinion, redwood is not a good choice for spar material. It is even worse for frames. I knew a fellow who once did just that, he sistered broken frames with laminated redwood. It was a disaster! Every new frame broke.

So far as the broken sprit is concerned. It would be quicker to make a new one than to mess with scarfing it.
Jay

[Mrleft8]

An 8' DF bowsprit should be a piece of cake to build. I'm close enough to Boston if you can't find someone closer (I'm sure you can) to do it for you.

[fjalt]

That sounds great, I'll be sure to contact you if I need the help. thanks

[Vinny&Shawn]

That sounds great, I'll be sure to contact you if I need the help. thanks

I have a bowsprit from a 30' cutter built in Scotland, what are the dimensions, (and shape),you are welcome to it,been cleaning out boat gear from past boats that we owned. Giving it away and trading. We are in Maine an excellent place to get help, gear and materials. Highland Hardwoods in NH, carries about every species of wood at reasonable prices. http://highlandhardwoods.com

[fjalt]

I'll have the surveyor get the dimensions and give them to you, it just might work. I will take me a few days though. thanks