MacGregorSailors.com

Hi All: My bowsprit mod is done and posted with pix in the Mod section. If you want to get all the power you can from light winds, this is the way to go for sure. My asymetrical spinaker is really too big for the boat and I have to hoist it to the top of the mast which is dangerous on a fractional rig, but it worked sooooooo fine last weekend. It's a down wind sail for sure but I managed to get a beam reach out of it with the bowsprit 'cause I was able to get the luff fairly straight with the sheets tied off to the aft cleat. Power was phenonimal compared to just the jib. The top of the mast did flex a bit, though, and I wouldn't want to overdo it and snap it off. Any suggestions on how to stiffen things up at the top? I've seen "jumper stays" in S-F Bay on smaller fractional rigged boats but no idea where to get the stuff, or if it's worth it to put that much more weight up there.
I think next I'll try using the jib and spinie together as a cutter rig. Wish me luck!

great mod!

looks cool

Dave

I have been waiting for someone to do what you have done. Great mod. Hope to hear more about the performance. Did you use any backup material inside the boat or just washers on the fiberglass?

Casey

Well I am glad this is working out and seems like a worthy mod! I have the material in SS as someone a few years back was leaving a local boat swap meet and had a pile of stuff he didn't want to take away, so had a free pile of stuff. Among this was several SS chainplates in the same dimensions you used! Unfortunately I am missing a swap meet today in Chula Vista!

But for daddy's day, I am Kayaking....so all is good! With our recent purchase of an inflatable one, we now have two tandems, and a solo, so five people can yak at a time!

I knew someday I'd use the heavy duty chainplates for something! This may end up being the something they get put into service for! Where you put the cross brace I may weld just a flatbar horizontily, drill holes and put some type of composite (Plastic) wood product so I can better walk out on it. I use that stuff on all step surfaces on the boat and trailer, and it works out superbly!

Maybe I missed it, but what did you coat it with? The various brush on bedliner (pickup truck stuff) should hold up to the environment well?

As far as where it bolts to the hull, I am considering a nutplate + backing strap, setup using capnuts welded on, so the whole setup is waterproofed, yet easily removable!

Keep us informed, we Mac owners are always looking for a way to boost sail power, and this may be the ticket!

So, you said that you used another brand Assymetrical. Do you happen to have the dimensions? Using it on a broad reach and the performance you acheived sounds like the right thing to do for sure!

One thing ya gotta give Mac owners, we could be the most innovative sailors out there, and that empty canvas that Roger gave us inspires great flexability to Mod our great boat out to the extreme!

Depending on how stout your back stay is, you should be OK---do not use stopper knots on your sheets and be ready to let the kite fly off if you burry the bow. That is too cool!

Dave, I cannot find this bowspirit mod in the mod section. I may need to do this for a 30 foot slip and have asked in the past if anyone has done this. I went through the search catalog and it did not pull up. Can you provide a number to where the mod is. Thanks.

BK- You mean his right? http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin ... record=578

Thanks Tom, I see my problem now. I bypass the opening pages by setting my computor to open to the discussion board.