Greetings,
I am seeking advice from all PS builders (and CLC staff) on how to repair substantial damage to Puffin's bowsprit and starboard forward rub rail, sustained this summer. Photos are posted below. In brief, I cast off from my mooring with my outboard humming, intending to motor away from other boats in the mooring area before hoisting sail. Shortly after releasing the mooring, my outboard stalled and could not be restarted. In the on-shore breeze, Puffin drifted down among surrounding sailboats and fouled its bowsprit in another boat's steel wire rigging. Wave action caused that rigging to saw into my rub rail and severely abrade my bowsprit in the time it took to free my boat and eventually return to my mooring. Fortunately, no damage was done to the other boat (all FG) or its rigging, but I'm left with a mini-tragedy and substantial repair.
I know I could simply build another bowsprit, or rout and sand the abraded wood on the existing bowsprit before sealing the wood again with epoxy and then varnish as in my original build. The rub rail is another challenge and I welcome advice on either or both repairs. PS#1 has a metal strip screwed to the outboard edge of its rubrails and I'll be looking to do something similar once Puffin is repaired.
On another repair issue, I intend to sand and repaint the starboard aft quarter, the paint job of which sustained some damage from a dinghy. (It was a tough sailing season all around.)
Thank you all, and stay well.
All the best,
Mark
ps - I replaced my outboard.