Setting Spreader Tips?

[Cool Beans]

With as much info as is on the net, I swear sometimes it is completely useless. . .

New rigging, I stepped the mast and have tensioned the rig. I set the spreaders by pulling the uppers down along the mast, marking where it hit the base, and then set the spreader tip at that point. Do I need to get hauled up and reset the tips before I sail?

Thanks! Searching the net I found 3 different answers for every version of this question I googled

 

[higgs]

I am a little confused about how you set the spreaders. I have been told the important thing is to make sure the port spreader tip is directly opposite the stbd one. Don't have one spreader higher or lower than the other.

 

[Cool Beans]

Picture is worth a thousand words, even if the picture sucks

Shroud was pulled taught along the mast, marked where they crossed the spreader base and then set into the spreader tip at that point. It swings up in a slight arc, but I'm not sure if it is correct or if I need to get up there and measure it out with one of those bevel tool things carpenters use

 

[woodster]

but I'm not sure if it is correct or if I need to get up there and measure it out with one of those bevel tool things carpenters use

that would be a protractor or a frameing square

regards

woody

 

[John Nantz]

Spreader should bisect the shroud

If the shroud is the red line, then the angle it makes should (standardly) be bisected by the shroud (blue line).

Check the welds or attachements of the spreader where it attaches to the mast. If it is angled then the above is true. If it isn't, then maybe not. But normally it will be angled.

The measurement you made on the shroud would cause the spreader to be angled slightly too much.

Is close enough good enough? If so, can you make a measurement on the shroud with the spreader horizontal? If you can then take and split that distance with the one you already marked, and then, because the base of the shroud is slightly further out than the spreader, bump the spreader tip up a tad. This should only be just a fraction of an inch.

If it were my boat I'd probably do the math (this winter) but perhaps there is a volunteer here that might do it for you but you'd have to give them more dimensions.

This is one person's approach and others will differ.

 

[justsomeguy]

Angles equal. Or really close.

 

[Ray Bowles]

I don't know if there is a difference between a masthead rig and a fractional rig on spreader settings but I don't think so. A B&R rig will have swept back spreaders on the upper shroud and the rearward sweep angle would be set by the manufacturer. As far the spreader horizonal setting I have always centered the mast vertically equal side to side and then made the spreader level horizonally so that the angles of the shroud wires are equal on both sides. I then set the mast rake and tune the rig. Making the spreader horizonally level is something I have done the same for both type rigs. I have tuned all 6 of my boats with a Loos gauge and they have performed very will. The boats have ranged is size from 14' (2), 22, 23, 26, 38.
Good Luck, Ray

 

[Joe]

The angles created by shroud and spreader, where they intersect, should be the same. A protracter, your rig dimensions and a little geometry should let you solve the problem on paper.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I am not going to raise a sail on my C30 until I replace my upper shrouds and backstay. This is the next project I have to do myself.
I replaced the forestay and furler a few years ago. While up there the spreaders looked totally perpendicular to the mast.
If what Joe says is correct, then my spreaders should be angled up slightly? I thought they would just be sticking out at wherever they are and the shroud would just go on it and not change the angle that the spreader is already mounted at.
I am not going to have a rigger mess with it so I do need to know these details.

 

[Cool Beans]

I've walked the marinas looking at sailboats and seen a ton of older boats with perpendicular aluminum spreaders in sockets. I've seen some older wooden spreaders that were angled upwards. I've seen most newer/well kept boats are either/or. . .Only dismasting I've seen in almost 2 years I've been out there was about a month ago when a drunk guy hit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

Just curious how critical the angle is and if I need to go up the mast. I'm not a big fan of the idea of swinging from a fabric chair by a tiny halyard wire And I'm not afraid of heights, but falling. . .that is a whole 'nother story

The spreaders slip over a male cast spreader based that has a set angle in them. There is a pin to secure them. . .they do have quite a bit of slop. . .I guess that means the the spreaders can only be so far out of whack though, right?

 

[RichH]

Angles equal. Or really close.

100% correct simplistic answer. Any other angle than 'equal angles' will/can cause the spreader to bend ... (ignoring and not including wire elastic deformation under load, but lets not go there at this time for the sake of simplicity.)

 

[Cool Beans]

Anyone in the little creek area want to go up the mast for me?

 

[Hermit Scott]

100% correct simplistic answer. Any other angle than 'equal angles' will/can cause the spreader to bend ... (ignoring and not including wire elastic deformation under load, but lets not go there at this time for the sake of simplicity.)

Don't forget Euler buckling.
Cool Beans, I'd love to do it for you. But Norfolk is a bit of a drive.

 

[DougM]

Figure this one out...When I set my spreaders with the mast down, they were perpendicular to the mast. When the mast was stepped, and the turnbuckles connected, the spreader tips were pulled down about an inch. Its like Darn, gotta go up the mast, loosen the J Bolts at the spreader tips, reset them, and start over again tensioning the rig. Seems like even if I mark the shrouds once I have the spreaders set, I still have to do it again next time. I'm getting too old for this....and I don't really mind going up in a bosun's chair.

 

[Sam Salter]

Why not just nudge the spreader ends up or down with a boat hook or a long piece of wood. Stand at the front of the boat and eyeball the angles 'til it looks close!

 

[DougM]

Nice idea, but I don't know of anybody that makes a 25 foot long boat hook with a tool on the end to loosen and then re tighten the "J" bolt cable clamps on the spreader ends.