H16 with a weird bow Cross Member?

Just looking at buying an H16 but there's a weird crossmember or brace between the bows of the two hulls where the bridle wire attaches.

Anyone know what that's for?..apart from the obvious strengthening of 2 bendy rotten hulls!

I believe it's also called a bow spreader

There's your answer right there. I'd be real nervous about sailing a boat that needed that kind of reinforcement to stay in one piece.

Apparently it was taken off an early 80's H16 that he owned before, as it assists as a handle to control the boat when launching in surf.

someone near me has one they made on it. he said it makes it easyier to pull through the sand and just connects the bows and makes it alittle stiffer

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