bowsprit

[sw44]

I need to replace 6' bowsprit ,any suggestions on type of wood /glue (epoxy ?) . also any good refernces for such a project ? and source for a replacement cranse iron .
thanks
gus

[JimD]

Just my humble opinion but it might look best if you can use the same wood as the original so the new one doesn't look out of place (unless the old one looked odd). Can you tell us more about the boat?

[sw44]

jim
the boat is a garden ketch built in taiwan , wood seems to be mahogany . it will be painted ,so rot resistance and strenth are more of an issue than looks . water infiltration between the platform frames and the bowsprit (a very inaccessible place )cuased rot to develop and although only the frames are shot , the sprit has some damage along the glue line and where the frames were let in , I'm not sure i should try to repair or just replace it....thanks gus

[JimD]

Up here it's hard to go wrong with douglas fir. It's quite strong, good rot resistance, laminates nicely with epoxy, and is available and affordable at any lumber store. Hopefully someone who knows Florida will offer ideas.

[Meerkat]

Contact www.classicmarine.co.uk (http://www.classicmarine.co.uk) for cranse iron replacements. They'll custom build to fit your application. To me, they have reasonable prices.

[N. Scheuer]

Agree with JimD's thoughts.

In Wood Properties Tables Doug Fir approaches the strengths of the Oaks.

It's also easy to work, as long as you don't get too fancy. The tough sap rings may give you fits, or worse, splinter, if you do.

Finished bright, I reagard Doug fir as one of the most beautiful woods.

Moby Nick

[imported_Jimmy]

Douglas Fir is a good choice for a bowsprit, but painting it is not a good idea. Some Douglas Fir is relatively rot resistant, but some is not. If you finish it with varnish, cetol, or something else see-through, you can detect rot much earlier.

[Bob Cleek]

As there is little or no issue with weight with a bowsprit, Doug fir is the wood of choice. However, as is evident from the comments above, many people are unaware of the quality variation in Doug fir. "Second or third growth" Doug fir is nothing like slow grown Doug fir. You want regular, straight,tight grained (8+ rings to the inch) stock. It should not have sap pockets at all. This is not your "local lumber store" Doug fir. Get it from a specialty lumber supplier. As you only need maybe something like a 6"x6' piece, the cost for good wood will not be significantly more than for crap. There should be no need to laminate. Simply work the spar from a solid beam. Shop around on the internet if you don't have a local primo wood supplier near you. They can ship it to you.

Don't worry about rot. Just seal the finished spar well with CPES, paying particular attention to the open grain ends. Then paint or varnish as is your preference. If you pad the face of your cranse iron with some rubber sheeting, you will minimize chafe on the spar and thus rot which might occur under the iron.

Why do you need to replace your cranse iron? It is quite possible that it can be repaired as necessary at a local welding shop. Obtaining a replacement will likely entail casting a new one at considerably greater expense.

[ 07-11-2005, 02:43 PM: Message edited by: Bob Cleek ]

[David W Pratt]

My little 30' cutter has a bowsprit with two cool wrinkles the builder put on. The jib sets on a 7x7 flexible stay that goes around a block on the bowsprit so as you tension the halyard it tightens the stay. OK not so cool, but the block rides on a track ontop of the sprit. You can hank on from the relative safety and comfort of the foreplay deck, then haul the car out to the end and hoist.
Thenn the sprit is hollow and the tack pennant for the asymmetrical spinnaker runs through it.
Both work great.
Good luck.

[sw44]

Thank you for your replies ,have started search for good quality douglas fir . The reason for replacing cranse iron is the catastrophic failure on a sister ship of aprox, same age . and since Im replacing sprit ..... any prefernces stainless or bronze ,original is bronze but Ive seen stainless on some boats ...
thanks again
gus
(have found some old growth d fir waiting on quote)

[Mike Vogdes]

How bout a piece of Ipe? A dark hardwood, very rot resistant, should work well for a bow sprit.

[Dayton Eckerson]

We had a new cranse iron cast for us a few years back. Made from manganese bronze. I think the guy that did it for us still has the pattern. His price was very reasonable. Call Thomas Adams Designs if interested: 410-295-7302. Good luck.

[Tristan]

Originally posted by JimD:
Up here it's hard to go wrong with douglas fir. It's quite strong, good rot resistance, laminates nicely with epoxy, and is available and affordable at any lumber store. Hopefully someone who knows Florida will offer ideas.Hard to find fir timbers in S. Florida, but it could be laminated from planks I suppose.

[botebum]

Mike Vodges- Ipe is very heavy. It's density is such that it will usually sink in water. It tends toward the oily side(like many exotics) and probably won't take paint well. It is also pure hell on tools. It has it's uses but I'm not sure this is one of them. (Makes the best fairing battens I've ever had.)