I've decided the Mac Dance is very time consuming and awkward during the setup and pack-up. So I'm considering a couple of options for retractable or detachable spreaders.....
1. I can buy stand size Ali tube and also Ali tube inserts. That's another tube that slides inside the standard size tubes. So I can easily make up telescopic spreaders, then drill a hole for a cotter pin though both tubes.
2. Cut up a the handle end of a big fishing rod... Need to investigate if they are 1" OD (roughly over 44") but a sectional fishing rod should make a good detachable solution. I'm pretty sure it would be ridged and strong enough too.
Any thought on these?.... or any other solution you can think of?
Erik Hardtle had retractable spreaders that he made for knot shore. I use a quick pin at the pivot on my M and just unpin the spreaders and push them along atop the life lines, better than falling off the boat trying to thread the spreaders under the life lines but not perfected yet. So far Erik's approach beats what I've come up with. Removable life line sections wouldn't be bad either.
Hi Neo - My current solution is to unbolt the spreaders and then occy strapp them to the mast about where they naturally sit, before unpining the mast base. The spreaders just slip off the stubs. Easy and quick and sure beats trying to muscle the mast over the stanchions. I've been trying to source some quick release pins to relace the bolts and nuts but no joy as yet. Cheers
Neo wrote:So I can easily make up telescopic spreaders
Neo
Well how about a crutch?
you already have the telecopics... Just press the button
Or this:
Well I dont know how much load is on the spreaders... The crutchs go from 100kg to 150kg...
As quick release I glued with epoxy somewhat like a plastic washer at the srew head an the nut, so I can open the srew at the spreather by hands. Works great!
Don,t be screwing around with that Idea unless u like playin the demasting game in the water or bendin ur mast
buy two of these to replace the bolts @ the mast end a few guy,s have done this http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/1 ... -p8090516e
J
PS & a small tether attached to the mast so u do not lose them to Davey Jones
This looked like a great idea Kurz, but I've just discovered that most Crutches are only 38" long (need 44") with a 22mm OD (need 25mm) ..... But thanks for suggesting that
Yes Highlander I have first hand experience of a mast fall ..... so I wouldn't make up a solution without a Shaft Lock pin backing it all up.
My (broken) Mast is with the Mast builders and I need to calculate some tube lengths for the telescopic tubes. Could someone kindly measure the distance between the spreader attachment bolt and the safety wire on their 26M?
Also how much does the spreader tube protrude past the point of the safety wire (not including the spreader tip) ... This would help me confirm my calculation.
Since I trailer sail I use these for quick disconnect. http://www.lowes.com/pd_218518-37672-882694_1z0y4he__
For travel I bungee to the mast then insert the spreaders and drop in the quick pins from the top. Quick and simple.
So do I. After three or four seasons, they're still like new, though I sail fresh water only. But for what they cost, I can replace them every few years rather than spend up-front for SS (which you can buy, but not at Lowes).
I also pop the caps off and put the tubes below. I'll try a quick pin this season, as screws take too long, and even though I sailed a couple of seasons without the caps secured, I'm concerned they could pop out if the rig got slack on the lee side, which could spell disaster as that would be the same as a broken shroud.
Ok - my mast is typically flat with spreader disconnected. I'll try to work out a projection measurement as you show it - mast face up with spreader attached. Give me a minute.
Tomfoolery wrote:I also pop the caps off and put the tubes below. I'll try a quick pin this season, as screws take too long.
Hmmm ... I've been thinking about the way you do this Tom and it makes good sens and I might consider doing something like that. The upper shrouds could then be rapped up (out of my head way at the helm) and I'll have a straight/flat mast run to support the Genoa Furler ..... I'm getting rid of the old deck light. It's bulky, ugly and it always in the way.
Jimmyt wrote:Ok - my mast is typically flat with spreader disconnected. I'll try to work out a projection measurement as you show it - mast face up with spreader attached. Give me a minute.
Hi Jimmy, Please don't go to any special effort for the moment.....Because I might scrap the whole telescopic idea.
Really appreciate your help so far.
I think Tom's approach would be better than a two piece spreader, but if you want to try the two-piece approach, I'm measuring about 30 inches for the first section to just scrape the lifelines. This is from your circled bolt measured along the spreader pole. Shorter is better. If I was trying it myself, I would go with 22-24 inches, due to everything flopping around during moving the mast in and out of towing position. Also, I had to project the lines, and nothing is square or plumb.
..... But thanks for suggesting that 
