Spreader Replacement

[commocean]

Can anyone give me a reason why I cannot or should not replace my spreaders with something a liitle more substantial than the standard feather weight spreaders?
It would seem to me that one would have to go out of their way to find such light gauge material supplied. I was handed a slightly bent one when I bought the boat and told that the previous owner didn't know how he bent it. I was stepping the mast last week when I furler was an inch short. When I got it to reach TADA! - bent spreader.

[Russ]

There are many views on this.
One is that it's better to bend the spreader if something has to give than bend the mast or something worse.
The other view is like yours, make it stronger so it doesn't bend again.

I don't know. I'm no structural engineer, but there are plenty here who might have more to say.


--Russ

[DaveB]

As Russ pointed out there is many reasons why they bent, resting spreaders on lifelines when trailing will cause it, not haveing equal lengths on stays, not tuneing the rig ETC.
Some have gone to thicker guage aluminum while others went with Stainless steel and a few putting wooden dowles in tubeing.
I would first find the fault and go from there.
I think most had a problem in diamiter of a greater strength tubeing fitting the sprocket and stay fittings.
Dave

Can anyone give me a reason why I cannot or should not replace my spreaders with something a liitle more substantial than the standard feather weight spreaders?
It would seem to me that one would have to go out of their way to find such light gauge material supplied. I was handed a slightly bent one when I bought the boat and told that the previous owner didn't know how he bent it. I was stepping the mast last week when I furler was an inch short. When I got it to reach TADA! - bent spreader.

[commocean]

So far, it sounds as though I am not far off the mark as I was thinking getting some good ol' hickory push broom handles to cut and insert. I have netting from the bow back to the cockit which forces me to take them off the mast for transport. I think the inserts will provide some support during this transition. At $70 a pop this would be the last time I would want to replace them.

[DaveB]

My Mac. X was only $13 a spreader thru BTW.
A 4 ft. dowel will work but a little loose inside were you can silicone it in place as you shove it thru.
Probably help it flex as needed but when comeing to bending aluminum it will flex .
Just don't get the wood dowel that fits like a glove,add the silicone to the dowel so flexing can happen without bending tubing.
Dave

So far, it sounds as though I am not far off the mark as I was thinking getting some good ol' hickory push broom handles to cut and insert. I have netting from the bow back to the cockit which forces me to take them off the mast for transport. I think the inserts will provide some support during this transition. At $70 a pop this would be the last time I would want to replace them.

[nedmiller]

I bought aluminum tubing from Ace Hardware (other places had slightly the wrong size) and then put a piece of pvc tubing in each. That was several years ago and I haven't bent one since. Wood might be too unforgiving and you could break the fitting before the spreader gave.
SILK

[technicalman]

I've busted a couple of spreaders just in traveling with the boat on the trailer. I did away with the fold away spreaders and went with the rigit brackets from bwyachts. have a new mast support and my problems are solved.

[commocean]

Well it would seem as though my problem has been fixed. I managed to straighten the spreader, sanded down a push broom handle, lathered it up with silicon and slid it right in. The result is quite nice, it just feels right and I would recommend it to anyone who cant tuck their spreaders under the life lines like me.

[DaveB]

Well you may have to redo your lifelines or have good chafeing materials under the spreaders. I have a Vshape 2x4 at the mast deck fitting to take up pressure of bounce of Mast spreading load when Trailering.
If single handed one has to keep the spreaders on top of life lines, a quick release on lifelines would work.I think BTW has them but you need them for both sides and boarding is a lot easier.This will drop the life lines so they dont rub on Spreaders.
Dave

Well it would seem as though my problem has been fixed. I managed to straighten the spreader, sanded down a push broom handle, lathered it up with silicon and slid it right in. The result is quite nice, it just feels right and I would recommend it to anyone who cant tuck their spreaders under the life lines like me.

[ROAD Soldier]

Ok Commonocean here is what you do to have something that will double as a good tree limb cutter when you do some unplanned testing on it by leaving your mast up while trailering near pine trees. It's ok it wasn't my tree. 3/4 inch aluminium pipe and quick disconnect pins for disconnecting when lowering mast and trailering. Ultra strong stuff and easiest thing to do. KISS concept at its best.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I think continuing to rest the spreaders on the lifelines is just asking for trouble.

Why not simply slack them with a release device. You should be able to do this and not mess up the netting you have installed.

The are many ways to do this. The most common is to install a pelican hook where the life line attaches to the bow pulpit. I went the oppisite route and installed keypin shackles in place of the standard shackle at the aft end of the forward lifelines. I simply slack them both then lay the mast right on top. This removes all the stress on the spreaders and makes raising and lowering the mast even easier as you never have to do the side to side spreader dance.

[Captain Steve]

I went with Duane's mod on the lifelines.... great idea!

[ROAD Soldier]

Duanne idea works too but pipe is cheaper then pelican hooks and the story about taking out tree limbs is not made up. Very stout mod however I might do that pelican hook mod to accomodate a dodger mod down the road.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I used these Keypin Shackles, two for $28 is pretty cheap for a mod that takes all the strain off the spreaders and makes raising and lowering the mast quicker.

There are also other times being able to slack the lifelines is helpful. We unroll and inflate our 10' air floor dinghy on the foredeck. Being able to slack the lifelines makes this easier and clears the way for getting the boat off and on deck with less effort.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10165

[Sloop John B]

I had to order a spreader from BWY. It's the cheapest link (to protect mast sprocket). Don't be loading the thing up with wood or PVC. You don't need the weight. Keep it expendible. A couple pelican hooks, or maybe just one, and you get the spreaders under the lines. Take a little extra time to check the overhang when trailering and cruising rivers. And keep your bimini down, I dang near snagged an uncharted Ma Bell line with bimini up.