Spreader bracket

Sea Change

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13 Feb 2014
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I'm taking a good look over my rig and I don't much like the look of my lower spreader brackets.
It's a Francespar mast from the late 80s, twin spreader.
The upper spreaders are all good but the lowers have these ugly spreader brackets. In comparison to the uppers, there's a second stainless plate welded on underneath. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a previous repair.
I think I'd be happier if I got new brackets made. I know most of the force on an inline spreader is in compression and the brackets aren't doing a huge amount, but we have an ocean to cross and while we have the mast down I want to get everything right.

From previous experience of getting custom metal parts fabricated, I don't think this needs to be too expensive.

Does anybody recognise these brackets? Is the double layer original, or a later bodge?spreader base.jpg
 
There's an extra rivet there that isn't on the other corners we can see. The other side has a matching weld, which makes me think it's been repaired before and the repair is failing.

It's down - if you can get it'd done I'd replace.
 
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