Bristol Channel Cutter

[Mike Meer]

Hey fellow sailboat enthusiasts.

I am working on a Bristol Channel cutter for an owner who is considering many options in spar material. The rig plan calls for a traditional gaff rig and he would like to keep it very traditional, saddles and rings are in the design brief. My thought would be to go with wood-painted carbon fiber all around. Forespar says they can build carbon spars in the shape specified by the design. I'm worried about the paint being rubbed off by the gaff saddle and the sail rings. Justified? Mybe a wood mast and carbon boom/gaff?

Also, what do you think about hardware? The traditional way to go would be bronze throughout. We could also do dyneema lashings in a traditional marlin spike application for allot of it.

Mike....