spreader attachment

[mmsailor]

It appears my spreaders are attached to the mast with a small bolt and nut on the top of the bracket and a rivet on the bottom . One of what looks like a rivet is loose and am wondering if this is something I can replace with a normal pop rivet gun . I have never seen a rivet this big if it is a rivet . Thanks as always , Mike

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If I recall, the spreader was held onto the bracket by a nut and bolt with the bolt upward to thwart any tangling of lines, sails and so on if it protruded downward. The bracket was generally affixed to the mast with pop rivets. Sometimes it was stainless steel or aluminum but over sized. I am not sure which you have. You can remove them by drilling out the head of the pop rivet and then tap the rest thru as it will fall down to the deck inside the mast which can be removed when the mast is dropped.

If stainless, an ordinary pop rivet gun will not work as you will need to borrow a bigger one for that job. Pop rivets come in various sizes but the ones used were generally bigger. I wish you were close so I could help but at least you have some information to go on.

 

[mmsailor]

If I recall, the spreader was held onto the bracket by a nut and bolt with the bolt upward to thwart any tangling of lines, sails and so on if it protruded downward. The bracket was generally affixed to the mast with pop rivets. Sometimes it was stainless steel or aluminum but over sized. I am not sure which you have. You can remove them by drilling out the head of the pop rivet and then tap the rest thru as it will fall down to the deck inside the mast which can be removed when the mast is dropped.

If stainless, an ordinary pop rivet gun will not work as you will need to borrow a bigger one for that job. Pop rivets come in various sizes but the ones used were generally bigger. I wish you were close so I could help but at least you have some information to go on.

Dave as always thanks for your time and excellent advice . The spreader rivet will go to the rigger who is running the new line to the swing keel .

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Mike;

again I cannot remember if this is a 23.5 water ballast or not. IF so, the line is 7/16 and do not use 1/2 or it will be too large. When getting the swing centerboard out, it may be stuck and simply moving the board back and forth sideways and a little pulling will get the bracket to come out. Also you will see two large ss pins and when replacing, use a little duck tape to keep those pins in place.