Spreader boots
- Thread starter Drinky Crow
- Start date
Perhaps @Drinky Crow is a gentleman who never goes to weather. Aside from chafe-guard, it makes a nice cover over all my stainless wire that I wrapped around cap-shroud and spreader end.
In my case it also keeps the sidestays in the channel at the end of the spreaders. Surprisingly there's no fastener holding it there
They really shouldn't get loose enough to fall out of the spreader. If they are, perhaps you could find a rigger to teach you how to tune your rig?
If the jib on the boat is small enough that it does not come in contact with the spreader ends, then spreader boots or other protective devices are not needed.
However, if the sail does come in contact with the spreader ends, usually when tacking, yes spreader boots or other protective devices are a good idea unless you want to fund your sailmaker's retirement fund.
Harken does make an alternative to boots that works on some boats.
www.defender.com
However, if the sail does come in contact with the spreader ends, usually when tacking, yes spreader boots or other protective devices are a good idea unless you want to fund your sailmaker's retirement fund.
Harken does make an alternative to boots that works on some boats.
Harken 285 Sail Chafe Protector
The Harken 285 Sail Chafe Protector (Roller) is designed to ease genoas over lifelines or past shrouds and to help large roach mainsails clear backstays. Features Snaps over shrouds above the spreaders to allow genoas to roll over your spreaders and
Once the mast is up they're tight enough. It's the stepping part that makes me thankful that they're there
I'm converting to these. Boots and other coverings can trap moisture and corrode tips and you'll never see it . Especially in a salty environment.If the jib on the boat is small enough that it does not come in contact with the spreader ends, then spreader boots or other protective devices are not needed.
However, if the sail does come in contact with the spreader ends, usually when tacking, yes spreader boots or other protective devices are a good idea unless you want to fund your sailmaker's retirement fund.
Harken does make an alternative to boots that works on some boats.
Harken 285 Sail Chafe Protector
The Harken 285 Sail Chafe Protector (Roller) is designed to ease genoas over lifelines or past shrouds and to help large roach mainsails clear backstays. Features Snaps over shrouds above the spreaders to allow genoas to roll over your spreaders and
Someone here posted pictures recently. Practical Sailor also did an article on chafe protection.
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Ah, I would hope that leeward shrouds would be taught but that's not always the case. The leeward shrouds can slack and do, if your rig isn't racing tight. And on older boats, which weren't built for racing tight rigging, there can be some slack. A little slack, some waves and the risk of a shroud slipping out of the spreader is real. On my Ranger 29 they were wired in. On my Hunter there was an engineered keeper. In the years between 1971 and 2004 I guess boat builders decided they needed a better system.
Dinky thinks that covers over the spreader tips are big and bulky, causing unnecessary turbulence that slows him down. The added weight could also be a negative factor. Up that high, their weight is adding to the pitching moment of the boat at the same time that it calls for extra work to hold the boat flat. As most posters have suggested, his fears are outweighed by the protection spreader boots offer to the sails that come in contact with spreader tips.