ACB ...your bowsprit ?

[PeterSibley]

Andrew , this photo of your windlass from over in Resources shows an interesting view of the inboard end of your bowsprit .I'm wondering about the roller ,is it for ease of reefing said sprit ? or something else ?

http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL282/9443996/17245530/314208498.jpg

Thanks Andrew .

[PeterSibley]

Bump ...I'm just going to raise this to the top in hope of Andrew seeing it .

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Peter - yes, what you are looking at is my interpretation of the usual British scheme for reefing a bowsprit.

The oval, tapered, oak fid is invisible in this picture as it lies against the forrard side of the bitts, which are 4" square oak.

The score in the inboard end of the bowsprit for the heelrope can be seen.

The roller is turned from a 5" bit of iroko; it keeps the heel of the bowsprit down when you knock the fid out or when you use the heelrope. You don't want to make the roller diameter too small or things will stick.

[PeterSibley]

Thanks Andrew .

So judging by the angle of the sprit to the stem head it runs back at an angle and clears the forward end of your house without needing to be lifted ?

The fid would be 2" diameter and passing right through to bear against the bits either side ? I don't quite understand the taper .

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

It runs back at an angle, (blocking the forehatch as it does so, because it was not originally intended to reef - if starting from scratch, offset the forehatch to clear the run in bowsprit, as eg on Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters) and sits against the fore coaming of the coachroof when about 2ft of sprit remain outboard. The coachrooft starts 15" abaft the mast. To get the last two feet in, marina dues for the avoidance of, or to use the fore hatch, one pulls out the bronze rod axle of the roller and lifts the roller out.

The fid is thicker in, and tapers, in the horizontal plane. The taper makes it easier to knock in and out.

Lastly you will see the 24" x 1.5" wedge glued to the upper surface of the inboard end of the bowsprit - this contacts the roller and ensures that as the bowsprit runs out it assumes the correct degree of steeve upwards.

[PeterSibley]

Thanks again .Clear and useful !