bow pulpit and jib

[Dick Westwood]

I'm getting my Cal 20 ready for the season, and have hit a question.I've bought a bow pulpit, that I'm planning to install. It seems to me, though, that the jib (whose tack attaches at the level of the deck) is going to hit against the pulpit rail (which is perhaps a foot higher than the deck) when I'm on a broad reach - possibly at points of sail higher than this.Anybody have experience of these kinds of things? Is there some kind of lead I can use to attach the jib tack, so it rises a little higher off the deck? The luff of my jib is a foot or so shorter than the forestay, so that might work.

 

[Mike]

If you raise it

Then you will lose the amount of horsepower the sail would have lost as a result of resting against the pulput anyway. I am thinking that you want to cut the tack higher so the sail won't chafe against the pulput. Most sloops I have seen the bottom of the jib rubs on the pulpit at certain points of sail; mine does. That said if the pulpit has no rough welds or other rough surfaces then it should be no problem for sail wear. As far as sail shape the small amount of sail affected by pressing against the pulput shouldn't affect boat performance unless you are in to all out racing. Then you may want to do something about the pulpit.My 2 cents.Mike