Bristol Channel Cutter

[Brion Toss]

Hi again,
We had the pleasure of making up Vectran standing rigging for a Nigel Irons schooner not long ago. Bronze deadeyes. I don't know how they handled the luffs, but the masts were white painted carbon fiber. Look up "Maggie B", and see if you can find some useful photo's.
A wooden mast, hollow birds-eye, would be simple and cheap -- and the grain wouldn't rub off. Then could save weight where it mattered, with carbon fiber gaff and topmast.
As for the boom, hollow wood, with gaff peak angle doing most of the work in limiting leech twist.
It's hard to put a vang on Lyle's booms, but you might try it. Keep that boom down.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss