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Rotted Bowsprit

  • September 29, 2013 6:28 AM
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    Message # 1400888
    Deleted user

    To my dismay I have discovered that the bowsprit I recently fabricated out of Doug Fir has already started to rot and am thinking about replacing it with the stainless steel box sprit.

    I am wondering if any of the members may have purchased one and decided not to install it and would consider selling for a reasonable price.
  • October 01, 2013 3:03 PM
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    Reply # 1402726 on 1400888
    Anonymous
    I have an original laminated bowsprit in very-very good shape. 
    I chipped out a potential "rot" area only to find hard wood.

    Yours for the asking and taking (10ft long and weighs a ton!) 

    I'm 50 miles S of Wash. DC ( pending the shutdown...)

    BTW, I fabricated my own SS bowsprit out of 3/16 SS square tube. It looks great and will survive anything. 

    ATF (after the fact), I would recommend buying Bud's Bowsprit. While it was fun to measure out my own, it wasn't worth the effort. Extra weight on the bow, and many-many hours of do-it-yourself. Not to mention all the 1/2-inch drill bits!

    Bud knows best !  

    Ed
    #687

  • October 02, 2013 4:36 AM
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    Reply # 1403007 on 1400888
    Deleted user

    Ed thanks for the kind offer. I already have the sprit off and am thinking after inspecting yesterday that it can be repaired, for many reasons this should be the best option.

     

    Chris.
  • October 11, 2013 10:06 AM
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    Reply # 1410247 on 1400888
    Anonymous member
    I had to replace my bowsprit this summer after finding what I initially thought was minor area of rot at the end of the sprit. When I first looked at the damage and showed it to the boatyard manager where I hauled out it was suggested that it could be fixed with 'some penetrating epoxy and a plug. After reviewing the situation with Bud Taplin I thought it would be more prudent to replace it. My thinking was that though there seemed to be solid wood beyond the area of damage any repair would put dissimilar products into contact causing a loss of continuity, flexibility/stiffness and a focal point in a critical part of the rigging which takes a huge amount of stress. In the end I chose to get a SS sprit from Bud knowing it would last a lifetime and rot won't be an issue in the future! 

    Best of luck! Ben
  • October 12, 2013 4:36 AM
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    Reply # 1410761 on 1400888
    Deleted user
    I have decided to replace the rotted laminated sprit with a solid Doug Fir beam. I will be finding a tight grained, hopefully "Old Growth" piece in which to fabricate the new sprit. My mistake was laminating wet lumber yard wood and then coating with epoxy, the srit rotted from the inside out. Thanks all.
  • October 12, 2013 8:24 AM
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    Reply # 1410855 on 1400888
    Deleted user

    We're with Ben.  I found SS to be a great improvement over wood.  We did weigh them when one was installed on Amable.  It was only slightly heavier but I don't remember the difference. Currently we are nearly at cruising weight and the cut water fitting is still out of the water We like the extra strength and not having to varnish.