Bowsprit re-rigging

In some areas, mooring to a buoy is the only option available. This is often a simple, space saving and reliable solution, even though everyone knows about the general warning about possible lack of maintenance and thus strength.

I think there are som drawbacks with catamarans and buoy moorings. If you have a bowsprit, it is usually supported by wires from the lower bow. When the wind is low, these wires easily tangle with the buoy or make noises with it as the boat drifts. The standard Privilege bowsprit rigging I have seen only permits lowering of the bowsprit, and no wire disconnect. But I have seen bowsprits in the upright position on other catamarans, and found this interesting. So I have been thinking about how I could rerig our boat. The solution is not that complicated. The only parts that were not easily obtained or made were the hooks for the removable top thimbles in the dyneema lines. I chose a simple design, changing and altering two of the bolts holding the bowsprit bracket to form hooks.

It is quick and simple to lift the bowsprit before anchoring. (We always do this because the large Spade anchor will touch and eventually chafe the dyneema bowsprit lines when lowering the anchor). Just ease on the line holding the bowsprit up. The dyneema lines will slacken, and the thimbles are easily unhooked. Just let go of them, and they will stop running out at the blocks.

For preventing tangling when at a buoy, it is easy to unshackle the dyneema lines when the bowsprit is up. The lines can then be secured along the inside of the bows, out of the way. Even easier if a softshackle is used instead of my present solution with a coiled dyneema loop.

When lowering the bowsprit again, the thimbles have to be held with one hand while lowering the bowsprit low enough for re-hooking with the other hand.

It works fine and eliminates some problems with  buoys. But in Scandinavia we usually find buoys with high steel poles that are supposed to simplify tying up. The steel part is usually high enough to bang on the underside of any cruising catamaran drifting in currents or low winds. The Privileges with their center section is especially vulnerable. The only thing that works is stretching the bridle tight as a rope, leaving the buoy in the middle. Which is less than ideal if the wind picks up. That will happen at night when sound asleep….  :).