I may be starting a new fire, or, at least kindling old flames, but I need some guidance. I want to add a Selden bowsprit to a Beneteau 323 and, from numerous comments that I have read on the subject, it appears that the process is not straight forward and the various solutions that have been recommended appear to be problematic as well. The design of the boat seems to contribute to the complication of an installation. For one thing, the bow area is rather crowded with rails, cleats, anchor rollers, forestay and furler, anchor locker, etc., and adding a required bow bracket and the pole itself simply must contend with this congestion. Added to this problem, the "hump" of the cabin roof does not permit an installation along the centerline of the boat (at least not an installation that allows the sprit to be retracted and stored in place when not in use). This means that an "off-the-centerline" mounting is necessary, but this seems to be complicated by the congestion at the bow and by limitations imposed by the design of the bowsprit itself. I am seeking an answer to this problem and any suggestions will be appreciated.
mounting Selden bowsprit on Beneteau 323??
- Thread starter new323owner
- Start date
Have you looked into other bowsprit options such as:
http://www.csprit.com and http://trogear.com
These may be a better options especially if your foredeck is crowded with other hardware.
http://www.csprit.com and http://trogear.com
These may be a better options especially if your foredeck is crowded with other hardware.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
Having designed and built a bowsprit for my Montgomery 15, I have to say the Trogear product looks terrific. There is nothing like tacking an asymmetrical solo using a bowsprit. It just works. I put my project together out of an aluminum pipe, some extra blocks, and a SS bracket I had welded for $100. Sure it was a shoe string budget but the forces to manage the sail were nothing like those on a 35 ft boat.
Your not going to want to use this sailing in 30 knot winds. but for those drifter days when extra sail can add 2 or more knots boat speed this looks like a great idea. I like the ability to remove the sprit and store it inside should the weather turn foul. it would be a whole lot safer than having gear up on the bow with green water covering it.
Just my opinion.
Your not going to want to use this sailing in 30 knot winds. but for those drifter days when extra sail can add 2 or more knots boat speed this looks like a great idea. I like the ability to remove the sprit and store it inside should the weather turn foul. it would be a whole lot safer than having gear up on the bow with green water covering it.
Just my opinion.
On a friend's similar Jeanneau it's mounted using the integrated anchor roller bracket as shown on page 2 of Selden's brochure that I've attached. We do still have to remove the anchor off the roller, we take off the large "cruising" anchor and put the "racing" anchor in the well when running in a spinnaker class.
http://www.seldenmast.com/files/1441613308/595-261-E.pdf
http://www.seldenmast.com/files/1441613308/595-261-E.pdf
I have mounted a Selden bowsprit on both the First 260 and the First 367. Its common (even normal) to mount them from an angle, and note the retracted angle does not need to be the same as the flying angle. The forward ring pivots. You can also mount the ring or the locking D-rings on risers to clear stuff. On both boats it took some creativity and test fitting, but it worked out fine in both cases.
Doug,
Thanks for reminding me that the bowsprit will place greater stress on the foredeck
New323Owner
Ted,
Of course, you are right. At this point in time, I will continue exploring squeezing it in.
Jssailem,
I think that larger boats offer greater challenges when compared with smaller boats. Thanks anyway
Ted,
the width of my bow roller is much smaller than the size of the bow bracket for the Jenneau. I don't know if Selden offers other widths in this particular bracket or not. Thanks anyway for your suggestion
Jack
Thanks for your suggestions. Today I found someone who is installing a Selden 75/76 bowsprit on his Catalina 30'. He has proved most helpful. He suggested a custom made bracket mounted to the roller furler. I plan to have an L-shaped bracket that will bolt onto the anchor roller. The bow ring for the Selden will be bolted to this bracket. I attach several images of the proposed mounting (using a whisker pole as a substitute for a not-yet-purchased bowsprit).
I would appreciate (all of ) your reaction(s) to my tentative solution.
Jackdaw,
Thanks for your suggestions. Today I found someone who is installing a Selden 75/76 bowsprit on his Catalina 30'. He has proved most helpful. He suggested a custom made bracket mounted to the roller furler. I plan to have an L-shaped bracket that will bolt onto the anchor roller. The bow ring for the Selden will be bolted to this bracket. I attach several images of the proposed mounting (using a whisker pole as a substitute for a not-yet-purchased bowsprit).
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Jack,
This idea came from a discussion group on the internet (pics attached). It sounded weird to me too, but, the more I tried other solutions, the more attractive it became as an alternative. The main problem is that the hump of the cabin roof does not permit mounting of the bowsprit near the center line. That said, the crowed foredeck combined with a 3" diameter pole that needed to be squeezed in made alternatives along either side of the centerline (including the one that I am leaning toward) more attractive.
new323owner
Get a copy of the installation instructions for the bowsprit you are planning to get. There is a min/max distance between the 2 mount points, as well as how far out the end can be from the forward mount point, based on the distance between the 2 mounts.
THECUSUS,
Thanks for your input. I will acquire these dimensions and use them to guide my own installation.
new323owner
Thanks for your input. I will acquire these dimensions and use them to guide my own installation.
new323owner
I mounted a Selden sprit on my old Pearson 32. Let me just say that any type of bracket or modification that you use has got to be really stout. You will be astonished at the strain you put on it when the chute collapses then refills explosively in a breeze.
There should be a deadeye attachment point mounted on the foredeck at the point where the after end of the sprit would be at full extension. Probably a duplicate of the attachment point where the aft end would be when retracted.
The vertical loading on the after end of the sprit will be in the downward direction.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
Doug, In addition to the vertical there is also considerable fore/aft vectors and port/starboard pressures on the end of the sprit. The further the sprit is extended the greater the forces.