Small Boat Bowsprit

[JSsailem]

I'm setting my Montgomery 15 up for a new Asymmetrical Spinnaker. I sail single most of the time so want to be able to jibe without a crewmate. Which leads me to a bowsprit. The retail units are built for boats twice my size plus with price tags to match. So I have a 4 foot piece of aluminum pipe ($15) and now looking for ideas to attach the bowsprit to the foredeck. Pipe is 42mm OD 34mm ID. A couple of pvc plumbing fixtures provide end caps on the pipe with a hole in the center for the tack sheet that runs back to the cockpit. Ideally the bowsprit would be removable. Set up for use than stowed on deck or in the cabin when trailering the boat to storage. Your ideas are welcomed.

[Peter E]

I don't know if I have the right picture in my mind but perhaps a rod holder that you can pickup at a Marine store might be attached to the deck that the bowsprit can fit into when in use and taken out when not. I don't know if they are that large of diameter but you could reduce the OD of the bowsprit to fit.

Good luck with it and post a picture when you arrive at a solution.

Pete

[wdscobie]

first of a couple of questions -

I'm setting my Montgomery 15 up for a new Asymmetrical Spinnaker.

are you installing a spin halyard to fly the sail forward of the forestay? or are you going to use the jib halyard?

[JSsailem]

Pete
The idea is an interesting one. I will do a search. Challenge is size, strength and movability. I understand the primary force for the heel end is compression of the sprit towards the Mast.

Thanks for the idea.

[JSsailem]

Dave

Plan is for a spinnaker halyard to be half way between the Jib and the Mast top. This would be at about 16.5 feet on the mast. The Sprit is planned for 1.5 to 2 feet beyond the bow to get it out from of the bow pulpit. This will enable jibing the asymmetrical in front of the forestay.

I envision the sprit lying along the forestay fastened to the bow and fastened to the foredeck. Tack line running through the sprit and back to the cockpit. This is still under consideration. The Spinnaker halyard will also run to the cockpit.

John

[wdscobie]

just to 'throw out the thought' ... why not get an asym that is cut to use the jib halyard? be a lot easier to tack v. getting an asym to swing through it's luff and the forestay.

[JSsailem]

Considered using the jib halyard, but the characteristics of the M15 Main to blanket the fore sails made me want to get the spinnaker out ahead of the forestay. Hope this proves to be a good idea.

Any idea how to interpret the hull numbers? My Montgomery is stamped with MMP15370C686. Reportedly minted in 1987.

[wdscobie]

My Montgomery is stamped with MMP15370C686.

MMP = Montgomery Marine Products

15 = M15

370 = hull number (aka, boat number)

C686 = 1986 model built March 1986

[JSsailem]

Thanks Dave,
Boat is a year older. Time for a birthday party.

Told it was an 87, and CA title read 1987 when I bought it in spring of 1997. That clears it up.

Beware of boat sellers....

John

[wdscobie]

CA title read 1987

it is possible the boat was not sold until '87 ... so person at the CA registration office just typed '87. i've found the folks that do the registration don't know how to read the HIN ... or even a certificate of origin.