MacGregorSailors.com

Ok crew,

I have been wanting to install some type of blocks on the outermost points of my spreaders for flag halyards, radar reflector, anchor ball, and motoring symbol. Has anyone done this (I'm sure many have on this board), so what are some recommended ways? and easy to install equipment?

Thanks

Rich

Did you mean spreaders?

--
Moe

Remove the nut and machine screw from the outboard end of the spreader tube, used to hold the tip in the tube.
Replace with an eye-bolt, eye down.
Running the flag halyard through the eye will probably work OK, or put a small block on it.

ya Moe, I intended spreaders, I had just flown out to Minneosta from Ca and had the typical airline delay debacle...must have thrown me off.

Thanks for the suggestion about replacing the screw with and eyebolt and then attaching a small block, that sounds easy and clean, I will give it a try when I get home to Ca.

Rich

Speaking of airline delays, maybe it's a good thing that one goof hid that bomb in his shoe, instead of his shorts. Now, instead of having to remove our shoes, we would have to remove our . . . .

ROFL Bill -

All airports could become "clothes optional" nudist vacation destinations!

- AndyS

Wouldn't the spreader tip screw be too close to the upper shroud to hang a radar reflector or daymark? To mount it inboard for these to clear, I think I'd go the fly of the flag(s) plus an inch or two inboard of the upper shroud to keep the flag from wrapping on it. Maybe 20" in on the 44" spreader.

--
Moe

Thats a good point Moe. So in that case, can I screw or drill directly into the spreader to mount a block, or will that weaken the spreader?

Suggestions?

Rich

The spreaders are one-inch tubing with maybe one-eighth (0.125" can't remember?) wall thickness. I sure would not want to drill them and risk tripping across their flag halyard - good-bye mast.

Some owners have inserted a close-tolerance PVC tube or wooden dowel inside the spreaders as reinforcement. If I was planning to drill them, that seems much better to me.

Bullseye on a hose clamp perhaps? Ugly, but too high up to see??

Maybe you're looking for something more permanent than this, but what I planed to, should the need arise, is:

Simply toss a line over the shroud. At the end of that line, I'd need some sort of clip/shackle(or just plain knot) to attach the flag. I'd just clip the flag and the shroud with that clip/shackle/etc. I'd pull the other end of the line, thereby raising the flag up the shroud, and cleat/tie it off wherever...

Basically, using the shroud as a flag pole and the spreader itself as the block...

Obviously, you're not going to hoist anything with any weight in this manner. So, friction isn't an issue. But, it seems like a quit and simple way to raise a flag or reflector, etc...

exactly what i did. i raised the radar reflector and the club flag this way on the upper starboard shroud. the flasne is attached to the forward starboard stanchion.

I drilled the spreaders about 4" in from the tip and installed a small stainless eyestrap (the cheap stamped type) and a small block about 3" in from the end on each spreader. They're through bolted #8's with nylok nuts. A few feet of 1/4" braid, two flag clips, and a small plastic cleat bolted to the mast about 4' up completes the system.

The loads caused by a small flag are pretty low; the tip of the spreader has no load so drilling holes in that end is no problem. The only thing I was concerned about was pulling the spreader down the shroud. I leave the halyard slightly loose and it hasn't been a problem.

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably move them further inboard on the spreaders; maybe as Moe said approximately halfway. I may still do it. the extra holes in the spreaders wouln't both me a bit.

These are real flag halyards; they look and work great.

For years I used the traditional added line with a small block tied to the middle of the spreader to raise and lower my club burgee, etc. This works fine but I've discovered an easier way.

I added part of a plastic shroud cover to the lower stb'd shroud. Don't know the size I used but it was snug yet loose enough so that I could slide it up and down the shroud. I cut and opened a small ss washer and put it on the shroud above the shroud cover. I then secured a small snap to the top of the burgee or flag and added a plastic chain link to the bottom of the burgee which I also cut so that it could be bent on the shroud also. I lowered the shroud cover, snaped the top of the burgee onto the shroud above the washer. snapped on the bottom of the burgee and raised the shroud cover and flag so that it just cleared the spreader. The flag doesn't get wrapped because it can swivel 360 degrees and it eliminates the extra line necessary for conventional flag hoists.....Murv

This is expensive, but it works really well. Probably could buy the parts separately to save some money.

Spreader Halyard

The block is attached to the mid point of the halyard with 3/16 pop rivets. Line drops down and attaches to a cleat fixed on the shroud.