bent bowsprit

[sailhog]

The storm that rolled up the East Coast last week took its toll on the deck where my boat is parked (a motorboat just a few slips down from mine sank). When I came down to the dock the following morning I discovered to my horror that my beloved C30 tall rig was sloshing against the dock. Incredibly, the bobstay was in the process of sawing the dock in half, as it went up and down, up and down with every wave. Fortunately the hull did not come in contact with the dock, but it appears that the first initial impact of the bobstay with the dock bent my bowsprit to starboard about 1/16 of an inch. This is to say that there is a tiny gap between the wood and the bow on the starboard side, and its flush on the port side. I've sailed it hard since then and haven't noticed any problems, and I've inspected it to the best of my ability for any other damage. My question to the learned panel is this: should I try to repair this, or should I just let it go? I don't even know that a surveyor would notice it, but it just hurts my heart to see that little gap... I'm suffering, and it seems that no one around here feels my pain...

[sailingdog]

Photos of the damaged area would help...

[TrueBlue]

It's only 1/16", but you know it's there. Perhaps by loosening the bobstay turnbuckle a few turns, combined with tightening the backstay - and some gentle persuasion by pushing up on the wood pulpit, while standing on the dock, will close the gap.

[hellosailor]

It is hard to guess without photos, but if there is a gap then something usually is bent--and something that fastened through the deck may have pulled or loosened enough to allow some water entry, which will cause a big problem if not nipped in the bud.

If there's any chance something moved like that, you'd want to remove the bowsprit completely, rebed and reseal with new fasteners if the old ones are bent or distorted at all.

[Gulfcoastbreeze]

Hmm...only 1/16"? I agree with hellosailor about this in theory, but it is probably not a huge deal. Ultimately it will make you feel better once you tear it all out and re-bed it, though. Much cheaper than therapy!

[sailingdog]

It also depends on how the bowsprit mounts. If it has the forestay chainplate as part of its structure, removing it and re-bedding it may be more work than you want to tackle.

[sailhog]

I appreciate everyone taking time to offer some good advice. I'm going to take sailingdog's advice and post a picture. If you all wouldn't mind taking a look at it once I get it up... Again, thanks.

[sailingdog]

No problem...