Converting 37' center cockpit sloop to cutter rig

[Rich Kinard]

Has anyone converted their center cockpit sloop to a cutter?I have the original alternate cutter rigged design, showing the locations for the collapsible inner forestay and backstays, but need to know if the inner forestay needs a reinforcing brace under the fore deck and how the collapsible backstays are rigged.Any help is appreciated.Rich Kinard

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Big Project

Rich - This is a serious project to be contemplated only with the advice and continuing input of a good rigger. The loads involved are significant and a failure could obviously be terminal to your rig.The inner stay definitely need to have reinforcement or it will pull out of the deck. The runners also need to have reinforced attachment points. The runners will need an appropriate tackle system to tension them enough to support the rig put not pull up the deck. You also need to make sure that the headstay and headsail system you have now is the same as what would have been on the cutter. This would surprise me - typically the genoa on a cutter rigged boat is small than the genoa on a sloop rigged boat - but maybe not this time.In short - this is a project that can be done but you need some hands on input.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Olivier]

I have just finished that same project!

I have just finished installing a chain plate for an inner stay on my O'day 37. It was a lot of work ,but it worked out better than I hoped for. I have have created a bulkhead using a 1" thick Iroko board ($20) that I spliced and lab joined with thickened epoxy such that it has a arch shape and has a long edge to attach to the hull. The bulkhead is slotted on the sides and epoxied to the hull. I have placed it right against the chain locker and bolted the chainplate to it, making it easier to epoxy in place. The toughest part was to remove that discusting close liner and clean the hull before tabbing. (I will use "goof off" next time: it made my life much easier once I found out about it!) This whole operation will also provide you with an opportunity to add stringers to the haul, insulation in-between and wood planks. Did I mention the bulkhead and the chainplate look great when you enter the boat?! It was a lot of work and would do it all again. I am not a rigger but I am a structural engineer, and from a force point of view, the bulkhead is enough to take the vertical portion of the load. The lateral component will be transfered from the chainplate to the deck (you need to make sure the hole for your chainplate is not too big. I saw a new caliber 40 that did not use bulkead to attach the chainplate but I do not like the idea.

 

[Rich Kinard]

Wow! Neat! Got a picture?

Justin,Did you sandwich the new forestay chain plate between the existing aft vertical face of the locker well and the new bulkhead that you fabricated?How far below the V-berth overhead does the new bulkhead extend? Does it interfere with crew getting access to the V-berth?How long was your boat out of commission to do the work?Any sketches or photos would be much appreciated.Thanks for the info,Rich KinardWilmington, DE