Building Friendship: Reports by John Monaghan

September 2000: Bowsprit, Jibboom, and Dolphin Striker

Hanging vertically at the end of the bowsprit is a complicated piece of woodwork called a "dolphin striker." Its function has nothing to do with harming the dolphins that will ride Friendship's bow wave. What it does is change is the angle of the martingale and fore t'gallant falls, which attach to the bowsprit and jibboom. Without the dolphin striker, these lines would be at such a "flat" angle to the bowsprit that they would not effectively support it.

Left: The dolphin striker with mortises and axle pin holes cut for the stay sheaves. Photo by John Monaghan.