I own a 1964 Alberg 35, and the spreaders have seen better days. Does anyone know what the original wood was that these spreaders were made from? Is it Spruce like the boom? I am replacing the standing rigging next month and would like to take care of the spreader problem at the same time.
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Wood
Being in the Oregon/Washington area I can get cedars and old growth Doug fir easy enough, but cedar seems like much to soft of a wood for this application, or am I thinking on the wrong lines being most of the force on a spreader seems to be in compression, and not a shearing/bending force?
Being in the Oregon/Washington area I can get cedars and old growth Doug fir easy enough, but cedar seems like much to soft of a wood for this application, or am I thinking on the wrong lines being most of the force on a spreader seems to be in compression, and not a shearing/bending force?
Also
Make sure you seal them well and paint at least the upper surfaces white. The sun will do its best to heat them up and degrade them with UV rays.
Make sure you seal them well and paint at least the upper surfaces white. The sun will do its best to heat them up and degrade them with UV rays.
Port Oxford and Alaska yellow cedar
are much harder than red cedar. Port oxford was the first choice for arrow makers before the modern fiberglass and aluminum shafts came out. Besides I think that you will find that the spreader tips are lined with stainless steel where the shrouds bear.
are much harder than red cedar. Port oxford was the first choice for arrow makers before the modern fiberglass and aluminum shafts came out. Besides I think that you will find that the spreader tips are lined with stainless steel where the shrouds bear.
maybe ash
I replaced some spreaders on a 1974 irwin comp. 37. I had one of 4 spreaders that a woodworker match it to be white ash. He made a set of 4 for me that turned out great.This was done 7 years ago. When he finished making them i put about 8 to 10 coats of epiphanes varnish on them. At every chance i will put a couple more on them,usually when i step the mast. Capt. Dana
I replaced some spreaders on a 1974 irwin comp. 37. I had one of 4 spreaders that a woodworker match it to be white ash. He made a set of 4 for me that turned out great.This was done 7 years ago. When he finished making them i put about 8 to 10 coats of epiphanes varnish on them. At every chance i will put a couple more on them,usually when i step the mast. Capt. Dana
Sitka Spruce
The original wood was most likely Sitka spruce. The wise thing to do is to have aluminum speaders made to replace the wood ones. Wooden spreaders will fail eventually, and the result can be catastrophic. Wood is unpredictable, unreliable and unsafe in the long run. Modernize with aluminum and be safe and trouble free.
The original wood was most likely Sitka spruce. The wise thing to do is to have aluminum speaders made to replace the wood ones. Wooden spreaders will fail eventually, and the result can be catastrophic. Wood is unpredictable, unreliable and unsafe in the long run. Modernize with aluminum and be safe and trouble free.
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