Peterson Coaster III one-piece bowsprit

[Ian McColgin]

I'm having a bit of confusion regarding your nose gear. It alsmot sounds as if the original idea was a bipod sprit to give a nice base for a platform bowsprit and avoid any other than a simple landing for the head stay.

Usually a single pole bowsprit passes through a gammon iron or something such that provides some lateral support as well as sealing the top of stem. The gammon iron does for the bowsprit what the partners do for a keel stepped mast, providing structural support. The butt of the sprit lands on something firm, like a sampson post or a block notched into bitts.

You're right that you don't want the whiskers in radical conflict with the bobstay. It sounds as if the single pole adaptation was carried out without full consideration.

You might consult a bit on how you will really use the bowsprit. Many traditional sailors like the bowsprit without lifelines and go out on a foot rope to wrestle the jib into submission. However, a pole sprit with a good tight pulpit at the end and parallel lifelines for the length of the sprit is also a very safe working platform.

Sidelight: If you don't use a roller-furling jib, be sure to rig a downhaul so the jib can be got down and kept down without going out there.

G'luck