Bruce writes:

I'm looking for ideas on construction of the mounting for a
retractable sprit. A deck mount is preferable for me, so if anybody
has done this please let me know the details. By the way 44 ft steel
cutter.

To keep it simple, how about using the same system as on old fishing
smacks:
http://www.alberta-ck318.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

A detail drawing of a bowsprit arrangement is on the end of this page:
http://www.alberta-ck318.freeserve.co.uk/details.htm

Whiskers can be added as well with a short tackle on both sides.

Of course you can replace the tackles with a hydraulic jack and locking
pins as suggested, but this would have been the original idea. And it
looks so salty, so salty.

Pekka


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