Adding piece of Profurl Extrusion

[Heli-Pilot]

The new (6' foot longer) bowsprit is in place on my Alden Schooner 'Prudence.' It is time to re-install the Profurl (NC 42 model). Obviously, it will be somewhat longer. The Profurl manual does a good job of laying out the step-by-step installation out of the box, but doesn't address just adding a piece of extrusion. It really doesn't make much sense to disassemble the entire unit and start from scratch. Thoughts?

[Brion Toss]

Hi there,
Ah, Prudence. Glad to hear you got your new bowsprit in. To add an extrusion, you do not need to start from scratch, though you will almost certainly have to remove the top section, and replace it with a new, full section. If the net added length is more than the length of a full section, you might be putting at least some of the old top section back on. Does that make sense? No? It is a bit confusing, unless you've assembled a few of these things, but believe me, it can be done. Be in touch.
Fair leads,
Brion

[Heli-Pilot]

Hey Brion, Roy here again. New piece of extrusion with accompanying bits arrived late today, so I'll be adding to the Profurl tomorrow as well as installing the whisker stays-Hayn Terminals, of course,(staysail stay and both bob-stays; I already installed--came out very nice. Fortunately, I paid attention when we re-rigged her two years ago. Following the instructions helped, too--imagine that). Another rigger in your part of the Sound installed the Profurl originally and did not install a partial piece of extrusion at the top--5 full-length pieces only--with one result being that the foil was about a foot and a half short of optimal length for position with the Darth Vader wrap-stop and short of the foremast top. I will attempt to rectify all that this time around--measure twice; cut once. Once done tomorrow, measurements for the sailmaker and the new jib should be finished by month's end. This should take care of Prudence's severe weather helm issue (this new 'sprit was built from original Alden plan) due to Lyn Skoog (many prior owners back whacking off 6' of her original 'sprit thereby eliminating one headsail). Also, Tuesday she's getting a 3-blade Featherstream Darglow prop thus getting rid of that 4-blade fixed drogue we've been towing around. All this in hopes of a proper performing vessel. Hope to have all projects complete and be there for the Festival's schooner race.

[Heli-Pilot]

Wow! What a difference the proper length bowsprit has made; especially in conjunction with a new Schattauer jib and the Darglow Featherstream prop. Prudence now sails as Alden designed her; evidenced by a 4th place showing (despite the failings of skipper and crew...LOL!) in the schooner race at this year's Festival last month.