Making New Bowsprit

[Ian McColgin]

I also have made bowsprits of fir. perfectly good wood for the use.

A couple of thoughts for grace notes. I shall assume that you know how to make and use a 7-10-7 guage for eightsiding a square section. If not, enquire over at the WoodenBoat Forum.

Using this approach, you can make up a square section that is tapered, still square, on three sides only. Eightside and then round from there. This will result in a very pleasing finished bowsprit that tapers bottom and sides. If you're going to have rollers on one or both sides, leave some flat for them and their supports to land upon.

On Granuaile, a narrow Marco Polo of notoriously steep heel, I let in raised teak strips along the bowsprit. For the footing and numerology of it all, I had 7 strips with the outer edges of the outer two strips subtending a 60 degree angle, giving 30 degrees of strips either side of verticle.

The nicest nosegear is really a ring with four tangs to catch the jib stay and tack, the whisker stays, and the bobstay. If it's made a little cone shaped, inner end's inside diameter a nudge larger than foreward end'd ID, and if the bowsprit is shaped to recieve that, you'll not need to clutter the bowsprit with screws. Allow just a little to put a leather pad or such in as bedding.

G'luck

Ian