It’s not IF it’s WHEN

I never wonder if something is going to break on my boat, no matter what boat it has been. The fact of the matter is that as a sailor you are taking your home made of most commonly wood and fiberglass and twisting it in raging seas and subjecting it to one of the most corrosive environments available. Sea water.

That being said “when” is now, for Houdini. We have experienced a major failure, and one of the most suspicious ones to date. In 2020 her bowsprit had been repeatedly replaced by North Harbor diesel in Anacortes Washington, with new hardware and spar and I felt comfortable building an entire new rig with Seldon on that foundation.

A few days ago I was doing my regular rigging inspection, preparing for an offshore sail from Puerto Vallarta to Loretto Mexico. To my absolute horror, I discovered that the collar or cranes iron had completely cracked and failed and Houdini could not be sailed until it was repaired or replaced. As I assessed the plan of action I noticed the paint was peeling from the bow sprit. I began poking around with my knife and I was able to slide the blade into the center of the bowsprit like butter. Bad news.

I got on the phone with several of my friends that have either owned a Formosa or a “Leaky Teaky” and started asking questions. Was this a common failure? The first question I was asked was “did you hit anything with the bowsprit” and “was it in the yard, near any lifts” The answer to the former was no, I haven’t hit anything. However it is possible that while at NHD one of the tractor operators hit the bowsprit causing a crack thus allowing water ingress over the past three years to rot the bowsprit. At this point how it happened is far less important than how I will fix it.

The bowsprit is thirteen feet long and made of wood currently at its largest point it is seven inches by eight inches. Not small. So the big question is what do I replace it with. The options are, spruce, hard wood laminate, aluminum, painted steel, or stainless steal (which at that point you may as well plate the thing in 18k gold)

Currently on the dock and not going anywhere until this is fixed:( This is going to be a massive project and I am going to do it myself… If you have any suggestions I am all ears!