PabloPicasso
Well-Known Member
Should shround 1x19 SS wires be clamped tight in the spreader ends, or be free to run through as the rig is tightened?
Speader ends
- Thread starter PabloPicasso
- Start date
Minerva
Well-Known Member
I’d say both! Loose for the first time fitting new rigging so they find their place, then clamped up thereafter.
PabloPicasso
Well-Known Member
That makes sense
Should spreaders be at 90 degrees to the mast, or bisect the angle of the shroud?
Should spreaders be at 90 degrees to the mast, or bisect the angle of the shroud?
Sea Change
Well-Known Member
I would go with bisecting the angle. I think it's better in terms of the loads involved, and just looks right to me.
Minerva
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Mine are slightly pointing up to the shrouds. What you need to avoid is a spreader pointing down when under tension as that could/would collapse.
PabloPicasso
Well-Known Member
Yes, absolutly, spreader's droop is worse than brewer's
mjcp
Well-Known Member
I came here to comment: “Another vote for bisection of the angle, NOT perpendicular to the mast.”
But I have reread this seldom guide and it says 6 degrees deflection upwards.(numbered page 17, 10 in the pdf)
And they clarify: “When the mast has been stepped, it must be possible to stand on the spreaders without the ends sliding.”
http://www.riggingandsails.com/pdf/selden-tuning.pdf
M
But I have reread this seldom guide and it says 6 degrees deflection upwards.(numbered page 17, 10 in the pdf)
And they clarify: “When the mast has been stepped, it must be possible to stand on the spreaders without the ends sliding.”
http://www.riggingandsails.com/pdf/selden-tuning.pdf
M
William_H
Well-Known Member
I think the practicality is that for a smaller simple rig boat sliding is ok. Certainly has been on my 21ft fractional rig for 50 years. Assuming the spreader construction is fairly robust ie rigid in both sweep fore and aft and up and down then yes they should bisect the angle of connection to the shroud. (point up) The spreader load is primarily in compression and you want the load directly in line with the spreader tube. Any pressure off in line would produce forces to bend the spreader (down) so should be avoided. But of course on a robust spreader compared to loads this may be ok.
On complex multi spreader rigs with high loads much effort is made to adjust the spreader angle by locking the spreader tip to the wire (or rod) and is carefuly adjusted so loads are precisely in column. This obviously requires a person to adjust and or attach the wire to the spreader tip.suspended up the mast. Both for initial adjustment and again after sailing to allow for stretch and final shroud tension adjustment.
So on a small boat when you don't want to be going up the mast to attach the wire to the end of the spreader after tension is set. The spreader should be angled upward by design of the base (6 degrees sounds good) and should be rigid at this angle enough for the wire to slide through the end. There may be some movement while sailing so be wary of wear in the spreader tip slot. Do make sure wire is well captured in the slot at the tip. Inevitably the lee shroud will become looser and a disaster if it escapes. Yes I saw it on a friend's 23fter which was tied in with string that deteriorated. Tacked quickly and motored home. Saved mast.
So on a small boat (dare I say up to 28ft) with robust spreaders mounted to angle up slightly just leave wire sliding in spreader tip. ol'will
On complex multi spreader rigs with high loads much effort is made to adjust the spreader angle by locking the spreader tip to the wire (or rod) and is carefuly adjusted so loads are precisely in column. This obviously requires a person to adjust and or attach the wire to the spreader tip.suspended up the mast. Both for initial adjustment and again after sailing to allow for stretch and final shroud tension adjustment.
So on a small boat when you don't want to be going up the mast to attach the wire to the end of the spreader after tension is set. The spreader should be angled upward by design of the base (6 degrees sounds good) and should be rigid at this angle enough for the wire to slide through the end. There may be some movement while sailing so be wary of wear in the spreader tip slot. Do make sure wire is well captured in the slot at the tip. Inevitably the lee shroud will become looser and a disaster if it escapes. Yes I saw it on a friend's 23fter which was tied in with string that deteriorated. Tacked quickly and motored home. Saved mast.
So on a small boat (dare I say up to 28ft) with robust spreaders mounted to angle up slightly just leave wire sliding in spreader tip. ol'will
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Non clamped for small to medium boats.
Large boats especially with multiple spreaders will have extra short spreader stays setting their position ....
Large boats especially with multiple spreaders will have extra short spreader stays setting their position ....
14K478
Well-Known Member
A gaff rigged boat is of course different and she will, regardless of size, have single spreaders so that the mast hoops or lacing can get up and down the lower mast, but the single spreaders will be substantial and they will have “spreader lifts” from the lower mast head, or the equivalent position on a pole mast, to the tips, with their own bottle screws.
Boathook
Well-Known Member
I watched the rigger do my rigging quite a few years back and he laid the shrouds on the mast and marked the middle of the spreader on the wire. Wire then lifted up and fitted in end of spreader. This gave the spreader a slight 'lift up' which the rigger said was OK for my 1970's designed boat. The spreaders were 'locked' on to the wire though I never tried standing on the ends.
