Bowsprit damage repair on Catalina 30

[marek416]

Im in the process of purchasing a 1995 Catalia 30 tall rig. Except for one serious concern: the boat is in reasonably good condition. The issue is damage to the bowsprit. The entire bowsprit, including the two side plates, are bent to starboard, and there is a crack in the fibreglass at one of the through bolts in the bowsprit. The surveyor mentioned that there is moisture in it as well. Catalin directly carries the replacement plates and stem and Anchor Rollers but stopped selling the fibreglass bowsprit,
questions I have are:

1. Considering the forces on the standing rigging, can this damage cause a catastrophic failure in its current condition?
2. Is this a relatively easy repair to make it safe?
3. Is the white paint on the underside of the deck inside the hull original?

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[jssailem]

1. Considering the forces on the standing rigging, can this damage cause a catastrophic failure in its current condition?
   1. Ans... Based on an image over the internet, I can only guess. "No/Maybe" I would take the mast and standing rigging down and do the repair before I went sailing in any type of wind and wave condition.
2. Is this a relatively easy repair to make it safe?
   1. Ans... Easy is relative to your DYI Boat skills and the amount of damage you discover. You may learn that the sprit is internally compromised. You may learn that the crack is a surface crack.
3. Is the white paint on the underside of the deck inside the hull original?
   1. Ans... Could be. It looks at the least a few years old based on the dirt and the spider cracks at the bow.

You are looking at a board that is 29 years old. It has been sailed and perhaps raced in the Great Lakes. There are advantages to being in fresh water. There are cracks and dings in any boat that is sailed and more than 5 years old. It is all about how the boat was taken care of when it got a dock rash or crashed into a competitor.

If you like the boat and price is reflective of the value you feel is fair, then this might be the boat for you. To get a value for the repair of the sprit you need to talk with a local marina who does boat repairs. That may influence your offer price.

 

[KCofKC]

1. Considering the forces on the standing rigging, can this damage cause a catastrophic failure in its current condition? I would say, unlikely but possible. It could be removed with out dropping the mast, you just have to secure the forestay with the halyard and maybe another line as well.
2. Is this a relatively easy repair to make it safe? It is for a glass man, but with you saying that there is moisture in it, why bother, it's almost as easy to just make a complete replacement and very little more expense. I would take it off and give it a better evaluation then. The side plates most likely could be straightened if not replace.
3. Is the white paint on the underside of the deck inside the hull original? I would say yes.

 

[marek416]

1. Considering the forces on the standing rigging, can this damage cause a catastrophic failure in its current condition?
   1. Ans... Based on an image over the internet, I can only guess. "No/Maybe" I would take the mast and standing rigging down and do the repair before I went sailing in any type of wind and wave condition.
2. Is this a relatively easy repair to make it safe?
   1. Ans... Easy is relative to your DYI Boat skills and the amount of damage you discover. You may learn that the sprit is internally compromised. You may learn that the crack is a surface crack.
3. Is the white paint on the underside of the deck inside the hull original?
   1. Ans... Could be. It looks at the least a few years old based on the dirt and the spider cracks at the bow.

You are looking at a board that is 29 years old. It has been sailed and perhaps raced in the Great Lakes. There are advantages to being in fresh water. There are cracks and dings in any boat that is sailed and more than 5 years old. It is all about how the boat was taken care of when it got a dock rash or crashed into a competitor.

If you like the boat and price is reflective of the value you feel is fair, then this might be the boat for you. To get a value for the repair of the sprit you need to talk with a local marina who does boat repairs. That may influence your offer price.

Thank you for your thoughtful answers; the mast has already been taken down at Winner pullout, I think it would be easy to remove the bowsprit and investigate further at this stage. I will wait for the survey to be completed and consider a fair offer

 

[jssailem]

I look forward to hearing more of the story about the sprit. Images of what you discover and how the repair goes forward.