Douglas, Like you, I considered the surface mounted
bronze bitts but being lazy didn’t want to spend the
time to research them. I’m would imagine they have a
heavy backing plate and combined with the additional
reinforcement of the deck in that area that the Sam
Morse put in, is plenty strong enough to support the
sprit. But I was wondering what they look like on the
deck. That is, is there a large base-plate on deck
that is through bolted to a backing plate or do the
bitts stick up through the deck?
Right now I have a bulkhead that runs athwart ships
just aft of the bitts and is attached to them. And
while I have access doors on both sides into this
forepeak area, there was a time when I would have
liked to use that space as part of the foreward bunks.
Also, what kind of costs are there for the broze
bitts?
Responding to Waxwing, I would like to attach a picture, but alas I
left my photos as well as the bronze patterns in storage, before
departing the U S. If there is a reason for me to rephotograph them,
scan them, and attach the photo to email, I could, but it will take
two weeks.
Yes, the posts and base plate are cast as one, and the base plate is
through bolted to a 1/4" bronze backing plate. Also added a 4"x4"
maple, athwartship beam, that the aft base plate bolts through too.
The bitts are the same height and size as the wood ones factory
installed.
I supplied a wooden mockup to Port Townsend Foundry, Pete made the
mould pattern and cast them in manganese bronze. The casting was way
too heavy at first. I spent a lot of time grinding and cutting away
the extra material. Before installation, I weighed them and compared
the weight to the oak posts I removed. The bronze bitts were some ten
pounds lighter. I don’t remember correctly, but I think P T Foundry
charged me $ 1,200. Douglas