Teak BowSprit Inspections - Servicing

[BigSmile]

Inspections at 2 points where bowsprit mounting brackets were also pinned horizontally through the bowsprit timber, revealed some cracks.

A windlass was mounted on top of the bowsprit and two vertical thru holes are present from that. On the underside of the bowsprit at this location, found a large bolt protruding down that I did not expect. Don't know if this was part of the windlass installation, or if this is an original element for the bowsprit installation.
-Anyone have any ideas on this?

I won't know more until the laminated board for the windlass that appears screwed and glued(or epoxied) to the top of the bowsprit is removed (And hope the screws come out without stripping and are not epoxied in.)

Is it typical for windlass mountings to drill holes thru bowsprit timber?
A Lewmar rep suggested the best way to do it is to have a plate/bracket made to interface the windlass, then pin the bracket horizontally thru the bowsprit (similar to what I found with the bowsprit mounting brackets). I shuddered at the thought of holes in bowsprits, but he seemed to think it was a better choice to minimize holes thru the deck.

Also found a split in the paint on the underside, again below prior windlass location. Chipped the paint back for further inspection to find a patch of dry rot.

Plan is to do a complete disassembly, but must wait until after the yard gets a look at it to appreciate it's interface to pending deck work.

Meanwhile, hoping for feedback from the forum on how to assess the cracks and the dry rot patch (besides removing paint for more looks), any other inspection or repair guidance, any thoughts on the bolt on the underside, and guidance wrt windlasses mounting to/thru bowsprit wood. In theory, I guess the 2-speed manual ABI which was mounted there could go back in, but the whole installation that was done gives me pause. Feels like it needs to be disassembled to figure out what exactly is going on there.

Bowsprit is teak, dimensions are approx. 6 1/2" x 6 " by 10'


As always, thanks for any and all of your fabulous feedback.

[zeehag]

remove paint and look thoroughly at that wood.
find a smart carpenter who knows hard woods and marine uses for hard woods and continue .
if not yet purchased the survey should bring to light for the current owners that which must be addressed before sale, should the contract be properly written. if you own it--strip it to wood and go from there.
dry teak splits.
fresh water washed teak splits.
add copious amounts of salt water to freshen it. find GOOD surveyor specializing in wooden boats and hire him. or her

for the record, much of the wood looks fine. needs to be stripped so it can be seen to be assessed