nonsuch wishbone
Nonsuch wishbones are made from two bowed round Alum. tubes mounted
in special cast Alum. fittings at each end. The snotter is a 2 part
sheet from mast to a block on the forward fitting, back to a block on
the leading edge of the mast, down the mast to a turning block and
back for adjustment from the cockpit. The mainsheet attaches to the
aft fitting. The tubes are bowed sufficiently such that the sail with
a normal draft and shape barely touches the tubes on any point of
sail.
Tensioning the snotter (while luffing if windy) drives the boom back,
tightens the foot, and can reduce draft and change sail shape easily
and dramatically. The outhaul is fixed since it is redundant. The
wishbone boom slopes aft and approximately bisects the angle betweem
leach and foot to tension both appropriately. It therefore acts as
its own boom vang.
The wishbone is slung from wire pendants mounted from each side of
the mast which take its weight. A topping lift holds up the rear. The
wishbone on a 26 footer weighs probably 70 lbs and is 25 feet long
with lots of momentum! Sail area is 420 sq. ft. the mast is a round
Alum. tube with tapered top section, 40 something feet long and
perhaps 150 lbs.
The design is identical on all Nonsuches from 22 ft.long/5000lbs. to
36 ft./16000 lbs. scaled to suit. Wishbone tube size ranges from
approx. 3 to 7 inches diameter.
It is an elegant and simple solution to sail control and adjustment.
Since the rig and sail are so aeroefficient these boats are as close
winded as any modern cruising sloop. Singlehanding on a Nonsuch means
literally one hand most of the time. I don't really know why I sold
mine after 5 years, although I got more than I paid for it.
Mike
in special cast Alum. fittings at each end. The snotter is a 2 part
sheet from mast to a block on the forward fitting, back to a block on
the leading edge of the mast, down the mast to a turning block and
back for adjustment from the cockpit. The mainsheet attaches to the
aft fitting. The tubes are bowed sufficiently such that the sail with
a normal draft and shape barely touches the tubes on any point of
sail.
Tensioning the snotter (while luffing if windy) drives the boom back,
tightens the foot, and can reduce draft and change sail shape easily
and dramatically. The outhaul is fixed since it is redundant. The
wishbone boom slopes aft and approximately bisects the angle betweem
leach and foot to tension both appropriately. It therefore acts as
its own boom vang.
The wishbone is slung from wire pendants mounted from each side of
the mast which take its weight. A topping lift holds up the rear. The
wishbone on a 26 footer weighs probably 70 lbs and is 25 feet long
with lots of momentum! Sail area is 420 sq. ft. the mast is a round
Alum. tube with tapered top section, 40 something feet long and
perhaps 150 lbs.
The design is identical on all Nonsuches from 22 ft.long/5000lbs. to
36 ft./16000 lbs. scaled to suit. Wishbone tube size ranges from
approx. 3 to 7 inches diameter.
It is an elegant and simple solution to sail control and adjustment.
Since the rig and sail are so aeroefficient these boats are as close
winded as any modern cruising sloop. Singlehanding on a Nonsuch means
literally one hand most of the time. I don't really know why I sold
mine after 5 years, although I got more than I paid for it.
Mike