Bow sprit sun cat

[Niantic Mike]

As is usual for me, another discussion question.

Has anyone added a bowsprit and jib to a sun cat? Something like the a friendship sloop with single jib is what I'm thinking...

[crazycarl]

There was a member, "Nemo", who added a small jib. Not sure if he had a bowsprit.
He posted pics, so a search may turn something up.

[Jim in TC]

Not sure now where I saw them, but there are some images out there of a SunCat outfitted with a short bow sprit and light jib.

[Niantic Mike]

Thanks guys, I found the Capt Nemo post! That's exactly what I'm looking for.

[Eddie C]

I had a 2005 Suncat which I added almost 4 feet of bowsprit to. Used an oak piece from a hand rail and a new jib for an JY  15 - 28 sq ft I think. Also used 1 inch pvc with a broom handle inside to make a jib boom. Using pulleys it was rigged as self tending. A hole was drilled in the end of the sprit and it slid over the horn of the bow cleat. The sprit was secured in the anchor roller sprit with u-bolts. 3/8 in SS cable was used between the bow eye and an eye bolt at the end of the boom. The jib worked very well - the Suncat was a beast on a beam or broad reach or a run. Unfortunately the ability to sail close to the wind was not really improved. I still got trounced trying to get to windward marks. I ended up selling the boat. Years later I got a Sundaycat and used the same jib but used a $12 handle from a wheelbarrow for the sprit. On this one I didn't use a boom but did add diy roller furling. Same performance results as with the Suncat. Sold the Sundaycat after a few years and the wheelbarrow handle is now the replacement tiller on my P165.
Tried endlessly to attach a pic. If I ever figure it out I'll post it.

[Niantic Mike]

Very cool Eddie.  could you email pictures? I'm wondering, where did the anchor go since you were using the anchor sprit for the bow sprit?

I was considering buying a used boom and bust cutting that for the sprit.

[bruce]

Eddie, I sent you a PM earlier. I can post a photo for you.

[Eddie C]

I have a pic of the Suncat and Sundaycat under sail. Sorry, no closeups. Both bowsprits were added with no holes or modifications other than removing the roller from the anchor roller - 1 bolt to remove or replace it. Jibs and sprits were removed prior to selling both boats.

[bruce]

Eddie was having a tough time loading the Sunday Cat photo so I offered to help. I cropped and resized the image from 3.3M to 1.0M, hopefully this should work.

[crazycarl]

Did you install whisker stays too?

[Eddie C]

On the Suncat, not the Sundaycat. The wheelbarrow handle used for the bowsprit was ash and seemed strong. It flexed a little in a breeze but not much.

[Niantic Mike]

Thanks guys!

Any suggestion on where to put the anchor if the bowsprit is taking the anchor roller? I was thinking about offsetting the bowsprit instead but not sure.

[Eddie C]

I rarely used the anchor - kept it in a bucket in the cabin. I suspect the jib would seriously disrupt the airflow on the mainsail on one tack if not on center. Again, performance was improved on any point from a beam reach to a run but pointing ability was not improved - that was my main reason for trying the jib twice. On my final race with the jib I was neck and neck with a Catalina 18 and a Flying Scott when we rounded the leeward mark. They both headed straight for the finish line while it took me 3 tacks to get there. I heard a young girl on the committee boat say, "Oh, I would hate to be him". That's when I swore off racing Suncats.

[Niantic Mike]

I reckon I'll just put a bracket on the side of the bowsprit to hold the anchor. I have an anchor locker Andi do like anchoring so it's pretty important for me