Trogear Bow Sprit Solves it Again

I thought about building a sprit for my second Archambault 31, but only for about a week.  Sure I could engineer it, build it, and then install it.  But would it do all the things I want out of a sprit?  Most likely, but the time and expense would not be well spent since I was just keeping up with the refit schedule this past off-season.  So I made the wise decision, and went to Trogear for the second time, and am happy I did.

This sprit is longer then the last one, for many reasons.  First it helps the kite get further away from the headstay when furling the Code 0.  On this boat the Code 0 is on the fractional halyard, which can also be used as a second jib halyard if needed.  But I run the Code 0, and A5 off that halyard, so there is very little room for furling a sail at the head, the extra distance at the tack is a nice addition.  The extra length also helps the slot now that I have a built, and am using the staysail on the new tack/halyard fittings. (See Bottom video below)

Installing the Trogear is a very easy process.  You need to make sure it is plumb and square on a compound curve part of your boat.  But I have given you a bunch of tips in this install video. (See Trogear Install video below)

The same it true for rigging the Trogear.  There are a lot of options, (See Trogear Rigging Video Below) and I don’t think you should just jump to one option. Take your time, and look at a lot of options while you get to know the sprit.  Last time I build hangers in carbon for holding the sprit in place.  This time I started off with just a simple sail tie that I tied in a knot, and then stitched through it at the proper height so the bobstay can be tightened.  Seems to work well, but I will know better at the end of the season.

As for the bobstay, installing a bow U-Bolt through the stem works very well, using a low friction ring inside the U-bolt as you tighten it down.  This gives you the ability to have a multiple purchase for the bobstay.  At the end of the sprit I had my local rigger Brandon at West Marine Middletown, RI build a very short strap. I put the strap through the titanium fitting on the end of the sprit with low friction ring up top, and one that is a very tight fit on the bottom.  You want this to be tight fit so it does not work up and down. Then once you tighten the bobstay it will stay in place.  I am using a 2:1 bobstay with 6mm dyneema; cow hitched on the bottom ring then through the ring on the U-bolt, back up through the top ring, and then run aft to my stb bow cleat.  On my boat the bow rail acts as the perfect deflector to the cleat.

On the other side is the 2:1 setup for the Ronstan 120 Standard furler for my Code 0.  This cow hitches on the big top ring to the sprit and through the Ronstan 2:1 shackle for Standard 120 furler, which is a fantastic combination.  This line goes forward one more time through the front of the low friction ring then dead-ends on my other bow cleat.  I can lift the sprit with this having the Ronstan 120 drum stored on the bow rail hooked to small loop.  So when on the mooring everything is out of the way for the mooring pennants.  The last line is the tack line for the A1.5, A5, and next year the A2.  This just runs through the big top ring and back to the pit area. 

One other addition I added are plastic caps to the titanium machine screws holding the through hull rod, which holds the sprit on the boat.  The reason for the plastic caps it to reduce the chafe on the mooring pennants that run up to each cleat.  The plastic cap screws are held on with Weld mount 8040.  This holds the in place and is easy enough to pop one off in the fall when the boat goes back into the shop.

When you look at the cost of the Trogear you have to take into account the time and material cost of building a sprit.  It only takes a few hours to install, and less to rig.  The engineering on the sprit is well done.  I went up to the next size to for wall thickness.  The very minimal weight difference is worth it when I crash into the back of a wave in 25 kts of wind with the A5 pulling hard.

Below are the three videos for installing on the last Archambault 31, and Staysail tack fitting.  The sprit is smaller in these videos but all the work to install and rig are the same.  New video for the longer sprit will come in August when I am back from TransPac race.

Have Fun, and see you soon. Paul