[bolger] re;mast anxiety
Hello,
While I have only built two Bolger boats(Surf&Micro) and cannot
possibly comment on other designs of his,it has been my experience that
the dimensions offered by Bolger for the spars are more then adequate.I
recall reading somewhere that the Micro main mast was designed with
something like a safety factor of 4 or 5!
If reasonable care is taken in selecting your lumber and attention
paid to good"no holidays" glue joints,it is difficult to imagine your
mast just breaking.I have been caught out a few times with my Micro,in
gale conditions,and while I had my hands full and was feeling just the
slightest hint of a lossening of the bowels,I felt more in fear of
blowing the reefed mainsail out then ever breaking the mast.Sure,it
bends in a most impressive fashion(compared to fully stayed rigs) but
that is what,I think,prevents the works from breaking.
All my lumber was just regular clear white spruce,cost under
$100.00 Canadian($35.US or less!) and has remained as true as the day
it was built six years ago.
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,getting itchy hands after having peeked under the winter
tarp,rubbed the bottom and played with the rudder of his Micro,on the
shores of the still frozen(damn it!) St.Lawrence..............
While I have only built two Bolger boats(Surf&Micro) and cannot
possibly comment on other designs of his,it has been my experience that
the dimensions offered by Bolger for the spars are more then adequate.I
recall reading somewhere that the Micro main mast was designed with
something like a safety factor of 4 or 5!
If reasonable care is taken in selecting your lumber and attention
paid to good"no holidays" glue joints,it is difficult to imagine your
mast just breaking.I have been caught out a few times with my Micro,in
gale conditions,and while I had my hands full and was feeling just the
slightest hint of a lossening of the bowels,I felt more in fear of
blowing the reefed mainsail out then ever breaking the mast.Sure,it
bends in a most impressive fashion(compared to fully stayed rigs) but
that is what,I think,prevents the works from breaking.
All my lumber was just regular clear white spruce,cost under
$100.00 Canadian($35.US or less!) and has remained as true as the day
it was built six years ago.
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,getting itchy hands after having peeked under the winter
tarp,rubbed the bottom and played with the rudder of his Micro,on the
shores of the still frozen(damn it!) St.Lawrence..............