Retractable bowsprit info and gear info desired

[agprice22]

My Telstar 28 project boat has a 6 ft or so aluminum tube that was originally a bowsprit that retracts into the bow. The PO had removed it and converted it for use as a radar tower on the stern. Being that we sail on Seneca Lake, I think we will skip the radar.

I would like to rig the bowsprit again, and I would like to rig a downwind sail.

I do not see any fittings on either the boat or the bowsprit tube that inhibit it from sliding all the way out and falling in the water. Is a line or stay used for this? Is a downward stay attached to the bow eye to balance upward and downward pressure on the bowsprit? How is the bowsprit extended and retracted? If mechanically, how so? If manually deployed, is a pin utilized to keep it from retracting or sliding out unexpectedly? I do not have experience with this, so I cannot even ask all the questions that need to be answered! I am sure I could rig it, but I am also sure you all have more experience and can save me a lot of wondering!

As far as sails and gear, do people prefer furlers or to launch from a bag or a sock? If a furler, which brand and style are preferred? I have not flown a spinnaker or other downwind sail before. Would another sail be useful both downwind and reaching in light air? Like a Code Zero or Duster?

By the way, to anyone sailing Seneca this Summer... we are pretty close to our timeline for getting her in the water mid May, so come by the Village Marina in Watkins Glen, and we hope to be showing off our Telstar 28 in fresh paint and interior design! You won't need a slip number. I am sure she will stick out! Sje will be named "Firefly."

Thanks all!
Andrew

 

[dlochner]

Andrew,

The choice between a sock, turtle, and furler depends on several factors. Are you going race it? Sail shorthanded? What's the refit budget looking like?

A turtle will be the least expensive option, it is only a big bag. It is also the least convenient option as it requires a couple of folks to haul the spinnaker in and bag it. After each use it will need to be repacked so that it goes up right the next time. There are some variations on this that may or may not work on your boat.

A sock is next up, it is very easy to set and douse. Raise the sail, raise the sock and take off. Reverse the process. A little more expensive than a turtle but requires fewer crew, someone to steer and someone to set the sail. No need to repack the sail after dousing.

Never used a furler, but this will clearly be the most expensive option. Keeping the business local, have you looked at CDI Furlers? They're in Homer NY, just south of Syracuse.

 

[capta]

When I sailed my Searunner I found that running a chute from float tip to float tip alleviated any need for a pole. Pretty simple to set and retrieve, just two sheets and a halyard. Flying it some feet forward of the mast, it kept the bows from submarining as all the pressure was lift. Could carry it far beyond prudent! I'm guessing your "bow sprit" is for a light air windward sail, not a down wind rig.

 

[Joe]

Have you tried contacting the builder, Performance Cruising, Inc? They're located in Annapolis, Md.. owner Tony Smith... who designed your boat... Btw I heard they associated with Hunter Marine a few years back... ????? but here's the numbers listed in Bloombergs.

Phone: 410-626-2720
Fax: 410-626-2726
www.geminicatamarans.com

Just sayin'... I'd always check with the builder first.... then the previous owner.
I did some quick research and it appears the "screecher" is the sail of choice... at least for Chesapeake bay.

 

[agprice22]

Andrew,

The choice between a sock, turtle, and furler depends on several factors. Are you going race it? Sail shorthanded? What's the refit budget looking like?

Never used a furler, but this will clearly be the most expensive option. Keeping the business local, have you looked at CDI Furlers? They're in Homer NY, just south of Syracuse.

We have not raced, but we are going to join the club this season, so racing is on the horizon, I think. Convenience is the key, since it is just two of us, and my wife, the Admiral, is a novice. In fact, we are moving from a monohull to a trimaran because she hates heeling!

I have bought several CDI furlers, and I plan to buy one for this Telstar, since the PO lost expensive parts for the Selden furler that was original equipment. However, I did not imagine using a CDI Flexible Furler for a bowsprit, especially since the bowsprit must be retracted for docking. I do not know whether CDI makes a different furler for a bowsprit.

Thanks for your review! Good info.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[agprice22]

Have you tried contacting the builder, Performance Cruising, Inc? They're located in Annapolis, Md.. owner Tony Smith... who designed your boat... Btw I heard they associated with Hunter Marine a few years back... ????? but here's the numbers listed in Bloombergs.

Phone: 410-626-2720
Fax: 410-626-2726
www.geminicatamarans.com

Just sayin'... I'd always check with the builder first.... then the previous owner.
I did some quick research and it appears the "screecher" is the sail of choice... at least for Chesapeake bay.

Thanks. I will check that out. I know they "sold" the Telstar and company to another person, who worked for PCI. But you are right; they may have some instructions for me.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[agprice22]

When I sailed my Searunner I found that running a chute from float tip to float tip alleviated any need for a pole. Pretty simple to set and retrieve, just two sheets and a halyard. Flying it some feet forward of the mast, it kept the bows from submarining as all the pressure was lift. Could carry it far beyond prudent! I'm guessing your "bow sprit" is for a light air windward sail, not a down wind rig.

Interesting thought. I have pictures of Telstars using both spinnakers and screechers / code zero sails, kind of light windward and downwind sails, so I will investigate further. The boat came with an unused 150 genoa for a furler, but the furler parts got lost along the way in favor of a jib-spar type, self adjusting rig.
When you say "some feet forward of the mast," do you mean you sheet it in, so that it stays closer to the mast than the bow? I could see how that would keep pressure closer to the center of the boat rather than forward, where it might press downward and bury the bow.

Thanks for the ideas.
Andrew

 

[capta]

When you say "some feet forward of the mast," do you mean you sheet it in, so that it stays closer to the mast than the bow? I could see how that would keep pressure closer to the center of the boat rather than forward, where it might press downward and bury the bow.
Thanks for the ideas.
Andrew

Depending on conditions anywhere from 5' to 15'. Since a chute naturally wants to go up, allowing it to pull from forward of the mast it literally tows a light boat like a tri, there's little chance of burying the bows. Being well attached to the float bows on a stable vessel, it won't oscillate like poled chute will on a monohull.

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE="Joe, ...Have you tried contacting the builder, Performance Cruising, Inc? They're located in Annapolis, Md.. QUOTE]

They are just across Back Creek from me, next to Bert Jabins Marina.