Spreader Bent

[rpasca02]

Hey Everyone,

Last year when bringing down the mast it seems like my port side Spreader was bent pretty close to where it joins into the mast. I've since removed it to investigate (will put up a picture shortly). Has anyone else had this problem and have you been able to just bend that back with a vise and some TLC? Has anyone replaced this cheaply or can I order one online? Thanks for the help.

[Paul S]

Hey Everyone,

Last year when bringing down the mast it seems like my port side Spreader was bent pretty close to where it joins into the mast. I've since removed it to investigate (will put up a picture shortly). Has anyone else had this problem and have you been able to just bend that back with a vise and some TLC? Has anyone replaced this cheaply or can I order one online? Thanks for the help.

Have heard of others sourcing local materials to replace the spreaders. I tried, I couldn't find anything cheaper than buying new.

Just giving a call to blue water yachts and buying them, already made, holes drilled, right length, and pretty cheap is the way to go. Buy 2-3 of them if you order.. you WILL bend more! ( bwyachts.com ) 800-688-8626

On our M, I remove the spreaders when I take the mast down, and lash them to the mast. I use a quick pin to secure them when I put the mast up. Makes life a LOT easier, and haven't bent a spreader since doing it.

Paul

[Sea Wind]

I got them from BWY. I also added PVC on the inside to make them stronger. Also, when trailering I add a mast support that relieves some of the pressure of the spreaders resting on the lifelines.

Sea Wind

[dca81]

I had a slight bend in mine at about the same location. I straighten them the best I could and added the PVC inside to strenghten. Worked fine last season.

[Highlander]

I bent mine once & had a steel pole from an old floor broom that was just the right size so I cut it in two sections & installed them into both spreaders as a temp repair for that season low & behold I bent them again that would be the lower spreaders on my boat "the originals" so now I will try and straighten them again by driving wooden broom poles down inside them this should make tham alot more stronger

J

[Divecoz]

Pretty much how I fixed one of mine ... hahahah I had forgotten all about that mishap : ) I used a short length of hard wood dowel.. I rounded mine on the end and used a dead blow hammer to install it..That was several years .. Just a tempurary fix mind you I was a gunna...

I bent mine once & had a steel pole from an old floor broom that was just the right size so I cut it in two sections & installed them into both spreaders as a temp repair for that season low & behold I bent them again that would be the lower spreaders on my boat "the originals" so now I will try and straighten them again by driving wooden broom poles down inside them this should make tham alot more stronger

J

[DaveB]

A few members have cut a few inches off the spreaders to allow them to go under the life lines. (good chance how yours got bent if traveling and sat them on the life lines) Thats how mine got bent right after the insert, you just have to drill a hole for bolt and adjust your stays.
Do a search on this forum for those who have shortened the spreaders.
Dave

Hey Everyone,

Last year when bringing down the mast it seems like my port side Spreader was bent pretty close to where it joins into the mast. I've since removed it to investigate (will put up a picture shortly). Has anyone else had this problem and have you been able to just bend that back with a vise and some TLC? Has anyone replaced this cheaply or can I order one online? Thanks for the help.

[Tomfoolery]

Lots of folks either slacken the lifelines, or pop out the spreaders. SS pins, including hitch pins and quick pins, are best, but even carbon steel hitch pins will last a couple of years, and are cheap when replacement time comes.

I've replaced mine with tube from Lowes, but be advised that wall thickness is not quite what the originals are. OD is also important, as a lot of inexpensive raw Al tube is a little oversized on the OD, and a miss is as good as a mile when it doesn't fit the socket.

Probably just as cheap to buy from BWY.

[NiceAft]

If you end up purchasing from BWY, see if you can purchase without the end cap. Also, purchase a second spreader. A backup is always good to have.

Ray

[Highlander]

If you end up purchasing from BWY, see if you can purchase without the end cap. Also, purchase a second spreader. A backup is always good to have.

Ray

Na just use an old broom pole inserted inside its cheaper, a lot more stronger & when u drop that mast u'll be able to make a quick sweep of things

J

[rpasca02]

$30 form BlueWater Yachts. Thanks everyone!

[DaveB]

That includes the end cap. I still would put in a wooden dowel.
The spreaders are designed to bend and flex but I would reather have the dowel incase standing rigging isn't adjust properly or you get hit with a strong gust of wind tacking. I have the new spreaders and tubeing is very thin.
The Mac. is prone for flexing as it has no bulkheads to support the side stays.
Thats why we experance much less tension on the leeward side shrouds in winds over 12 knots or more beating to windward as the boat is flexing.
Dave

$30 form BlueWater Yachts. Thanks everyone!

[jbousquin]

I got them from BWY. I also added PVC on the inside to make them stronger. Also, when trailering I add a mast support that relieves some of the pressure of the spreaders resting on the lifelines.

Sea Wind

I actually use what I'll call the "mast-swinging tango" to make sure the spreaders DON'T rest on the lifelines when the mast in on the deck. Basically, when you're taking the mast down and the spreaders get to the level of the lifelines, I kind of swing my hips out to one side while guiding the mast with my hands until the spreader on one side is INSIDE the lifelines. Then, I push the mast in the opposite direction to get the spreader to go UNDER the lifeline. I push far enough in this direction so that I can then look over my shoulder to the other spreader, and insert it under the other lifeline.

I'm sure without seeing me do my dance, it's not that easy to understand, but basically, I wiggle the mast back and forth until I can get the spreaders under the lifelines on both sides.

Then, to make sure the spreaders don't touch and mark the deck during trailering, I use two pieces of rope to tie the spreaders UP to the lifelines, which are now above them. This effectively pulls the lifelines down, without putting much pressure on the spreaders.

I learned this technique from Jeff at Arena Yacht Sales in the bay area, where I bought my boat. It's worked well for me so far.

[DaveB]

Thats what we do now but the side standing rigging has to be loose and aft. It is easy getting the spreaders from under the life lines but a little more difficult putting mast down slipping them under the lifelines. Thats why a few people have cut a few inches off the spreaders.
Dave

I got them from BWY. I also added PVC on the inside to make them stronger. Also, when trailering I add a mast support that relieves some of the pressure of the spreaders resting on the lifelines.

Sea Wind

I actually use what I'll call the "mast-swinging tango" to make sure the spreaders DON'T rest on the lifelines when the mast in on the deck. Basically, when you're taking the mast down and the spreaders get to the level of the lifelines, I kind of swing my hips out to one side while guiding the mast with my hands until the spreader on one side is INSIDE the lifelines. Then, I push the mast in the opposite direction to get the spreader to go UNDER the lifeline. I push far enough in this direction so that I can then look over my shoulder to the other spreader, and insert it under the other lifeline.

I'm sure without seeing me do my dance, it's not that easy to understand, but basically, I wiggle the mast back and forth until I can get the spreaders under the lifelines on both sides.

Then, to make sure the spreaders don't touch and mark the deck during trailering, I use two pieces of rope to tie the spreaders UP to the lifelines, which are now above them. This effectively pulls the lifelines down, without putting much pressure on the spreaders.

I learned this technique from Jeff at Arena Yacht Sales in the bay area, where I bought my boat. It's worked well for me so far.

[RobertB]

I actually use what I'll call the "mast-swinging tango"

That is an elegant way to put it - on our boat it is more like try to push the wife over the side because she is on the wrong side of the mast