fun with spreaders

[patrick]

While spending some quality time with my mastlight last weekend I noticed the intersection of my spreader tips and the stays. The spreaders have 2 grooves for the wire to lie in but only a very thin piece of stainless sheetmetal on the outside with a single screw placed in the middle between the wires. It looks like a sheetmetal screw. Regardless this looks pretty lame to me, the spreaders maintain their position on the wires by the pressure/tension of the wires alone. I've heard that the wires should be secured to the spreaders with siezing wire. Any suggestions? How is yours done? The boat is a 79 C38.Thanks

 

[R Kolb]

Rubber boot

My C22 has a rubber boot, got it from West Marine, that covers the end of the spreaders to protect the headsail. The wire (shroud)is in the little slot you described on the spreader tube and there is a cotter pin to keep it from somehow getting out of the slot. Then the boot goes over the whole thing. It doesn't take much to hold the shroud in the slot because the pressure is pulling it in and down, not out.

 

[josh]

duct tape

Lots of 300 mph duct tape. Umm maybe one role per side. Don't worry about any additional windage it may create. But seriously maybe a heavier gauge metal strapping lapped over the stays, and bolted through the spreader. It is funny that you posted this as I just rebuilt the wood spreaders on my c-30 this weekend. I lost a spreader on my old boat when I changed tacks and the stays on the port side went limp. There was not sufficient attachment of stay to spreader and spreader to mast and the whole thing fell out. Oh well lesson learned. I now favor overkill on spreaders Because even a little problem with a spreader means risky sailing.

 

[John]

white rigging tape

no text

 

[Augie Byllott]

Spreaders

I believe that intent is for the shrouds to be held in the groove at the tip of the spreader, but not so tight that there cannot be vertical movement between the uper shroud and the spreader as the mast moves about.My experience is that if the rig is correctly tensioned, the shroud will remain in place.