Spreaders Broke Again

[Erik Hardtle]

After going through several spreaders from raising the mast .... I came up with the idea of a collapsible spreader that would use spring buttons on the poles like my grass trimmer does. I couldn't remember where I had seen poles with the spring buttons... found some companies that sell them by the thousands... then I thought where I have been hanging out lately.. ah yes.. West Marine.

The idea is to collapse the spreader when moving the mast back before raising it... then pull them out till the buttons click while the mast is on the crutch.

This requires 2 poles ($33 each)... I used black ones to go with my color scheme WM # 1954650 for the black ones, #143284 for the aluminum one.

Check out my website for lots of pictures.. click the WWW button below.

[craiglaforce]

I agree about not using some unproven button device for the spreaders.
I would try to determine why have you had several failures and fix it.
Some have said that there was a casting ridge inside their spreader sockets and they filed it smooth to protect the speader tubes.

Is your rig tension correct? If it is loose then shock loads may be the problem. Might also double check the spreader tip /cable connection detail. Is the spreader tube exactly bisecting the upper shoud angle when the mast is up and rigged? If it is isn't then the spreader may be bent by the rigging stress.

Are the spreader tubes made of the right material and thickness?
I don't know what grade of alumimum they used whether it is a hardened or soft aluminum. But was your replacement of the correct grade and temper?

[Harry van der Meer]

I am using rigid PVC tubing inside the spreader to provide some additional strength.

[Frank C]

After going through several spreaders from raising the mast ... The idea is to collapse the spreader when moving the mast back before raising it... then pull them out till the buttons click while the mast is on the crutch.

Implication is that Eric bends spreaders when rolling his mast aftward, prior to pinning it. It seems he may be hitting stanchions with spreaders as he pushes aft with the mast-foot elevated slightly too much? I suppose if the spreaders are shorter during that 20 seconds, they won't impact the stanchions? It seems to me the better solution is just being more careful during mast-raising, but Eric's only postulating one possibility, not recommending his solution.

Eric's other mod that I'd surely avoid is his "track & car" for attaching the forestay to the mast. His website makes clear that it's perhaps not for everyone. I'd personally never take the effort to attach the track to mast top - much less trust the forestay tension to a Harken micro-car. Just one opinion.

Finally, Eric's "winching gin-pole" is a very interesting solution for raising the mast. On basis of his suggestions, I bought the mini-winch, but have never gotten around to installing it on my gin-pole.

[Steve K]

You should use a brake winch for this, rather than the type that has the lever that clicks in and out. Why? you ask. Because the lever type will give no control during lowering the mast. If you happen to loose your grip on the handle, down things come. A brake winch will stop, if you happen to let go, or stop cranking it. JMHO
SK

[Frank C]

Steve,
Good point. Rather than a "brake winch," the one Eric suggested has a two-way ratchet. It seems this accomplishes the same purpose, but I've not tried it.

It is a trailer winch intended for a PWC, 900# capacity, 3:1 ratio, 36' rope with 2-way ratchet. Eric has the West Marine part number on his website and it was $35 at my local West Marine store.

[Erik Hardtle]

Thanks for the feedback:

Schock- appreciate you hanging around on our board.. the experienced advice you send are very welcome. I tested it at about 50 lbs of pressure... but I still have to test it while sailing. I had one spreader break during sailing... I am sure it was from me bending it while rolling the mast back. If it doesn't work I'll go back to just replacing and do a better job of rolling my mast back (probably not with my track record).

craiglaforce - failures.... it's all me... operator error. No casting ridge. The aluminum may be too light.. but if the buttons work I'll just go to my local metal shop and get the hardened ones.

Frank C - yup, 20 seconds will help me with my mental problems of rolling the mast back properly... only takes one time to screw them up. "track and car" - if I had to do it again I wouldn't.. too much work to screw that thing down... works good though.. M26 mast raising pole - I couldn't find a "brake" winch, not sure what it looks like or where to get one... that's what the M uses.. but the winch I use does have a two way ratchet that stops the winch in either direction.
I've had a couple people on this board make this and they seem to like it better.


I'll post any results with the spreader setup... good or bad.

[Dragonfly]

Remove the bolts that hold your spreaders on the stainless boomerang. Buy longer bolts and cut the threads off above the bottom of the bolt. Buy 2 stainless hitch pins. Drill a hole in the bolt matching the hitch pin Dia. Make sure when you insert the new bolt back into the hole of the boomerange that the body of the bolt extend below the boomerange about one half inch.
Insert a stainless hitch pin to hold bolt in place.
Keep in mhttp://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/macm.pngind that all the pressure on the spreader is pushing inward from both sides.

You can remove your spreaders from both sides of the mast and secure them flat to the side of the mast. This will eleminate any bending of the spreader while pushing your mast backwards and the cost is next to nothing.

The factory tried to improve the mast suport system but came up short in cruch height. When the mast is down the spreaders most every time will be in danger due to the swept back design.

I rigg the M-26 for H&S Yachts and demo sail for new clients and work the boat shows. Yes I own one. Hull #77

I have refined my M-26 with a Suziki 70hp engine with a powerthruster half moon wing around the prop.
I also have developed a cockpit table and a 12 to 1 stainless steel rigid vang system custom made for the M-26 mast. No need for a topping lift. The price for this system is yet to be determined but comes complete with mounting instruction and photos.

DRAGONFLY moonlite@cyberverse.com