Bowsprits and buckets

So this next installment concerns an essential part of every gaffer - the bowsprit. This started life as a three piece laminate which was trimmed square and then lovingly fettled into a splendid bowsprit. I came over a bit artistic as the sunlight caught a fragile curl of wood shaving.

Ah lovely... anyway after much more planing, the bowsprit emerged with the help of a cunning spar gauge which helps taper the bowsprit in proportion. I am not sure how best to explain except it is geometry which is far better explained here http://www.boat-building.org/learn-skills/index.php/en/wood/using-a-spar-gauge/
It is a very simple device but a very good 'trick of the trade'. Here it is pictured below.

Any way after taking the corners off and taking the corners off and taking the corners off again, you finally end up with one you try on for size.

I think the camera angle in this one makes it look quite intimidating and obviously it will get nicely rounded over on the end.

And what have I been up to ? Well I now have a pattern for the cover and will be ordering bits for that soon but in the meantime I have knocked up a canvas bucket for the hell of it really. For those interested in the technical specification of said bucket here we go, 15oz cotton canvas, with 12mm ply base (well, what else do you do with the hatch cut out from the boat your are building. Waste not want not is what I say....) 10-12 mm cotton rope and copper tacks. Two Matthew Walker knots and a backsplice later and there you go. In terms of usefulness these days probably in the same category as the cardboard propeller but I like it and have decreed it to be the 'bucket of declaration' to encourage post race donations from fellow Gaffers !...It will get its first outing this weekend.