8.1  Builder Modifications to Basic Boat

1. Notes on Dovekie Modifications and Equipment Upgrades by Edey and Duff
   
 
a.    DOVEKIES prior to #31 had laminated mahogany leeboards.
b.    DOVEKIES between #31 and #85 had narrow fiberglass leeboards.
           After # 85 they were equipped with the current wider fiberglass leeboards.
c.    DOVEKIES prior to #42 had a stainless steel gallows.
d.    DOVEKIES prior to #62 had a straight helmsman’s seat across the aft end of
           the cockpit instead of the current horseshoe shaped “crew seat”.
e.    DOVEKIES after #59 are equipped with a Jiffy reefing system which replaced
           the original double maststep system.  (One on the deck and one on the cabin sole).
f.    DOVEKIES prior to #77 had a different deck with smaller deck hatches, raised
           combings, and only canvas covers.
g.    DOVEKIES after #84 are equipped with the current larger sail. (143 sq/ft. vs. 128 sq/ft.)
h.    DOVEKIES after #75 are equipped with a bow centerboard.
i.     DOVEKIES after #145 are equipped with Beckson opening oarports with rubber
           gaskets and screens.
j.     DOVEKIES after #135 are equipped with an aluminum mast and sprit.
k.    DOVEKIES after #150 have colored Gelcoat topsides instead of Awl-Grip
           or Sterling paint.

           The above information represents how the boats were delivered, and is as accurate as we can determine.  Many older DOVEKIES have been upgraded, and the only way to know the present state of any boat for sure, is to contact the current owner.  With the exception of replacing the stainless steel gallows with a fiberglass one, all of the above equipment can be retrofitted to any of the older boats.

8.2  Owner Modifications to Basic Boat

1. Securing Mast and Spars for Trailering (Marsh Hen)
   

As with all trailerable sailboats hauling a mast and the spars that go with it can be a pain.  I trailered a Marsh Hen for years with no organized way to haul that long mast and sprit around other than plopping life cushions down where the mast and sprit lay on the deck and tying them down.  Invariably when I arrived at the ramp I would spend 10 minutes getting all of the tie downs off and then proceed to step the mast at which point the sprit would fall from the boat to the concrete.  I would then have to climb down from the boat and lay the sprit back on deck and climb back on the boat at which point the sprit would again fall off the boat and on to the concrete.
After years of doing this, I figured I needed a way to keep this from happening.  I bought two 4 inch pvc caps and cut a slot and hole that slid tightly over the fore and aft cleats mounted on the decks.  I cut out fittings for the mast and sprit to "cradle" in and bolted them to the pvc caps which are flat on top.  The wood cutouts look kind of like moose ears and work great.  They protect the spars, keep them in place and are very easy to put on, take off and store while underway.  I wish I could take credit for the invention but it is very similar to the system that the Sea Pearl 21 uses to carry its main and mizzen mast while being trailered.  – Allen


2. Boom Crutch (Marsh Hen)
   

Other than replacing my original sprit sail rig with a Bay Hen gaff rig, the only modification I've made to my Marsh Hen is to make a boom crutch and holder to keep the boom and sail out of my way while motoring.  The traditional way to hold the boom and sail while motoring, is to incorporate a boom gallows mounted at the stern of the boat. This is a standard item that comes with the gaff rigged hens, but since my boat originally had a sprit rig none was included.
    Upon converting to the gaff rig, my first thought was to install a boom gallows similar to the other hens, but not liking the permanent nature of the gallows, decided to adapt the "mast crutch" concept used successfully on Cape Cod type cat boats.
It took considerable trial and experimentation to locate the most appropriate spot for the crutch and holder.  The difficulty arose because the stern of the Marsh Hen is pointed and there is no transom to mount such an item.  I did not wish to cut a hole in the deck and the rudder and tiller always presented interference.
Success was accomplished by discovering that I could attach a 16" length of 1 1/2" inside diameter pvc pipe directly to the motor mount that was fastened to the port quarter of my boat - canoe fashion.
    By planning carefully, I was able to mount the pipe where it doesn't interfere with the operation of tiller, rudder, outboard, or sail, and the pvc was painted the same color as the boat hull and is barely visible.   Since the pipe is fastened directly to the motor mount, there was no need to drill holes or make alterations to the boat itself!
    I found a paddle, cut a notch in it's blade (cushioned the cutout with rubber material) to hold the boom, sawed the paddle shaft to length, inverted and inserted it into the pvc holder.
    It works very well, keeping the boom and sail out of my face while motoring, and when I am ready to sail, I simply remove the crutch (paddle) and stow it.  After sailing, I replace the crutch in it's holder for motoring and mooring. -- Herm


3. Attaching the Mainsail to the Mast (All Hens)
   

Lacing:  I have Marsh Hen #22 now (Toby's boat) and have tried lacing both ways--I like skipping a turn or two better--I can hoist and douse with very little problem.  I wish the bottom two grommets were not below the snotter, but, other than that, it works well. -- Jim

Mast Track:  My MH # 16 has a sail track that was installed by the previous owner and it works fantastic!  It is the only modification that my Hen has to it and is wonderful compared to laced on sails and hoops that don't work.
    The sail track is stainless and is screwed to the mast at many different points on the mast.  The sail has sail slides that "straddle" the sail track and are attached to the sail by the many grommets previously used for lacing the sail on.  Shackles are used to attach the slides to the sail and a small vinyl protective cover is used to protect the sail. – Allen

Mast Hoops:  I replaced the sail lacing with  4-1/2" inside diameter pvc hoops when I converted my Marsh Hen sprit to the gaff rig.
    I have only used hoops for one season, but they have worked very well, so far.  Easy up and down with no binding.  I don't think I would want to go back to a lacing arrangement.
    I heard that others have problems with their hoops and I can't explain why mine work well and theirs bind.  One thing I can report is that my arrangement employs eleven (11) hoops (each one a foot apart)  which I at first thought was overkill, but I have discovered they do keep the luff straight and, since there is so little sailcloth between each hoop, that possibly could contribute to the smoothness of operation on my mast. -- Herm


4. Bay Hen Cockpit Bunk Fill-ins
   

Sleeping under the Bay Hen's Bimini-tent has some great advantages.  One is being able to unzip part of the tent in early morning to look out at a great blue heron feeding along the shore.  Now this is without having to get out of your sleeping bag or even raise your head off the pillow!
    To convert the cockpit to a bunk, I chose to use 3/8" plywood painted white.  (Reuben Trane used ¾” teak planks with cleats holding them together, probably much stronger.)  Two inserts were made that span the footwell of the cockpit.  When both are in place they fill about two thirds of the footwell.  I did not fill in the aft part near the engine.  I find I don't need to and its nice to sit up and still have a place for legs.
    A length of teak is attached with nuts and bolts onto each of the two cockpit lids.  The teak is 3/8” by 1/4” and is positioned 3/8" below the lid top.  Care must be taken to assure the nuts on the inside of the lid will not rub the footwell wall.  The teak support runs most of the length of the lid.
    The two white boards are strong enough for careful use, but I wouldn't jump up and down on them.  I've thought of adding stiffeners to their undersides, but really have not needed them.  Their dimensions are such that they stand on edge inside one of the cockpit storage bins.
    I had two cushions especially made for the cockpit bunk.  A large one that has two pieces of foam that supports most of my body and a smaller one that slips between engine and backrest, that supports my legs and feet.  Half of the large cushion can be lifted and the cushion pushed to one side, making both a seat and back rest combo.
    The whole arrangement works very nicely except for one thing.  The engine does get in the way of your feet so you can't spread out too much.  Next engine will be a 2 horse Honda that I'll take out of the well and really spread out! – Ken


5. Dealing with Broken Bay Hen Masts
   

   Several Bay Hen sailors have suffered mast breakage.  The break is caused by the development of stress corrosion cracks at the hinge boltholes where the mast is attached to the tabernacle.  It is at this area where the greatest stress occurs.  Since these holes are hidden from view it would be a good idea to periodically remove the hinge bolt and make a careful inspection.  If you see hairline cracks beginning at the boltholes, it will not be too long before they grow to the point where the mast will break.
   If you see stress cracks, refer to the first option below that strengthens the bolt hole area and removes the stress cracks.   If the mast brakes there have been two approaches two approaches we are aware of: either adding stays or simply replacing the mast.  All three approaches are covered below:

   Repairing a mast with stress cracks - Before describing my mast repair, I must insist that I cannot confirm it to be the best solution for the reoccurring problem of upper mast hole fatigue. It's simply what my man at the machine shop and I came up with as a possible solution. Time will tell, if this solution works.
   Inspection at the beginning of the season showed no apparent fatigue, but after lowering my mast this October, it was apparent that stress cracks had begun to fracture the mast. They were thin, approximately half inch long, fissures radiating outwards from the upper holes. You had to look closely to see them, but they were clearly there.
   Our approach was to mill an 18" length of thick walled, aluminum tubing (approx. 1/4" thickness) to snugly fit the inside diameter of the mast. It was decided NOT to weld the two tubes together at any point because we felt it best to allow for some movement between the two tubes with the through-bolt securing the inside tube in position. This may have been a good or a bad decision, but not being an engineer, I must wait for time to give the final verdict. The suggestion of welding the tubes together at the base seems to have merit, but presently, only friction between the tubes and the pivot bolt keeps the tubes in alignment on my Bay Hen mast.
   After the cracks on the mast had been ground and filled with weld, a new hole was drilled through both tubes to receive the "hinge" bolt. Of course holes were also drilled to receive the lower pin (or bolt) which secures the mast in the upright position.
   That pretty much tells the story, and I'm hopeful that it will prove to be a viable solution. Total cost for labor and materials was $84.00. - Herm    

    Adding Stays - We attached the stays about 20 inches from the top of the mast.  The forestay is attached to the bow with a quick release hook.  The side stays or shrouds are 10 inches back from the mast (56” from the bow) and remain attached all the time.   They do have adjustments (turnbuckles) so that they are not tight when the mast is vertical and under no strain.  The forestay is taut when it is initially secured.   Stays are attached to the edge of the deck where it overhangs the hull.  A small amount of teak trim was removed to accommodate the fittings.  We unfasten the forestay when we drop the mast and bundle up the side stays with all of the other stuff when we lower the mast into the boom cradle.  It works for us.  Before installing the stays the mast broke twice.  Since the fix, no further problems as of this date.  It cost $800 to have the work done in an Annapolis mast and rigging shop.  This work also included the repair and reinforcement of the mast.  The mast was rewelded using heavy aluminum welds and vertical aluminum bands welded on where the hinge attaches to the tabernacle. We have also had to reweld and reinforce the gallows where the vertical pipes are attached to the metal plates used to fix the gallows to the stern deck.  I think the welder called them gussets.  Driving down the road causes whole thing to move side to side and eventually caused the welds to break.   Also we put a second notch on the gallows’ cradle so the boom and mast do not rub together as we drive down the road.  Other wise the rubbing wears a hole in the sail and sail cover. -  Fred

    Replacing Mast – In my case I decided against stays because I wanted to keep the unstayed mast design.  My mast broke after ten years of service, so I felt a new mast would mean another ten years.  Also I added another 15” to the length of the mast.  I bought a mast blank from Nimble for $300.  I then took the old mast gear and reattached it to the new mast after cutting the mast to size and carefully drilling the tabernacle boltholes.  I figure if I see cracks developing, all I have to do is to cut 12” off the bottom of the mast and re drill the holes.  We’ll see! – Ken

     Buying a New Bay Hen Mast –  See letter below from Valmont Industries (an Alumnium Light Pole manufacturer that was used to supply mast blanks for the Bay Hen):

   Thank you Mr. Murphy. Yes we can provide them to you one at a time. The 2200-19304 A1 is still the correct model number and should be used on any purchase orders you send in. Cost including packaging would be $ 131.00 each plus $87.00 for LTL freight for a total of $ 218.00 per shaft. Lead times would still be 8-10 weeks. You would fax all orders to the attention of Paulette Redenius at fax # 651-463-3349. This is our Minnesota plant where the shafts would be made. Paulette can also be reached at 800-899-7577.

Dennis W. Coker
Sales Manager OEM/National Accounts
Valmont Industries
888-800-0228
Fax 651-463-3349


6. Raising a Hen Mast with a Gin Pole
   

   Some Hen owners have opted to raise their mast using a gin pole and their trailer's winch. Setting up the gin pole takes additional time and a bit more scrambling on and off the boat. There is also some danger involved as a failure of the system may bring the mast down on someone's head. But if the owner lacks the strength to flip the mast up, a gin pole may be the only alternative. See gin pole diagram and directions


7. Bay Hen Conversion to "Poor Man's Trawler"
   

Starting at the bow and going aft...here is what I have done to date to my bought-new 1998 Nimble-built Bay Hen...now my Poor Man's Power Trawler.
    My 1998 Bay Hen arrived with a short sort-of-bow sprit that really is the mount for the anchor roller assembly and the large bow cleat.    When I two-block the anchor in the roller assembly the stock still flopped around and scratched the wood.  I purchased a set of small cast bronze anchor chocks, screwed them into the wooden “sprit”..and the anchor stock is now firmly made fast.  The bow anchor is a standard Danforth S600...good for the mud bottoms I'm usually anchored in.  .
    Added self adhesive backed  “rubber?” insulation stripping internally around the fore-deck hatch  coaming to seal it against rain and spray leaks
    Removed and carefully mothballed entire mast, boom, gaff and sail and made a somewhat old-fashioned mast stub and cross arm.  Rewired same for anchor light and wind direction vane.  The wind vane is surprisingly helpful to me when docking.   Left lacing on the mast and have box of unused mast loops.
Added slabs of foam inside hull forward of mast foot and made bulkhead for cosmetics.    Flotation was not a factory option at time of purchase.   Also added slabs of foam inside hull in cavities midships formed on each side by the twin bilge board casings.
    Added a combination - selectable white/red  surface mount fluorescent cabin light. The white/red switchable cabin light is a stock catalog item from West Marine.  I discovered that when checking things at anchor in the middle of the night, like am I dragging?, am I aground?  and “what was that bump-in-the-dark ?”  .... the standard incandescent white cabin light of course blasted my night vision.    I think it was about $ 43.00.
    Added washers and sealed leaking bilge board pivot bolt holes with polysulfide.  Locked up bilge boards in up position.
    Added clips on cabin top teak rail to hold boat hook and remote GPS antenna.  Replaced ship's   factory - supplied 12 volt wet battery with a good and larger gel cell battery.
    Made a wooden companionway hatch (with portlight) to replace the factory's smoked Plexiglas one.  This hatch also allows temporary mounting of ship's compass so one can navigate by compass with hatch closed in foul weather.
    Added an 8 foot fold-down VHF antenna for ship's main VHF radio located in cabin.   Handheld VHF still used from cockpit.
    Modified the tiller so that it would not hit the top cover of my outboard engine.  Added a tiller tamer and also a store-bought telescoping hiking-stick.
    Made a custom fit  wooden cover for the motor well area to keep water from splashing into the cockpit via the motor well opening.
Completely filled the lazaret with foam slabs for aft flotation.
Added a proper stern light and an ensign staff mount on the aft deck.  -- Bill