Sleaving a carbon fiber pole

[Matthew Sebring]

We recently broke the retractable bowsprit on a J105 and were considering sleaving the pole with another smaller piece of carbon tubing and then expoxing the whole together. The break is right at where the pole enters the bow. I'm concerned about a hard spot at the end of the sleeve since the pole is unsupported and is subject to some flexing. Also, I've not done much with carbon but am working with people who have but not for this specific sort of fix. Are there any issues I need to be concerned with?

[Brian Duff]

I have no direct experience with this sort of repair but can see some flaws with your plan. The sleeve inside the bowsprit will be at less advantage to manage the loads due to its smaller diameter. Since this bowsprit is working by bending, not in compression, you must join the outside 'skin' of the bowsprit by grinding away a taper and laminating a repair in addition to sleeving the joint. This repair area will have to be built up much heavier (thicker) than the rest of the sprit because the carbon fibers will be disrupted and only glue strength relied on to handle the loads (assisted by the sleeve inside).

I'd say get a new pole to be positive its fixed. Get a composites expert involved if any repair is undertaken. Just call Hall, GMT, Selden or Forte (probably others too)- they will sort you straight.