Spreaders

C

Croucher

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9 May 2003
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Hi,

How loose should spreaders be in the mast sockets? They dont easily move when the riggings tight but flop all over the place when loose.

Whats the best material to use as a bush, or is the gap just filled with that Duralac stuff? Misaligned spreaders particularly bug me and I guess is dodgy too?

thanks
 
In which direction are they floppy?

What sort of boat and what sort of rig?

The spreaders should be attached to the rigging wire at the outer end so that the angle is bisected. In practical terms the spreaders should be slightly above the horizontal. The quick and easy way to find out where to fix the shroud is to bring the wire to the base of the spreader, mark with some tape or felt tip marker where the centre of the base of the spreader is on the wire and then swing the shroud out and fix the outer tip of the spreader to the marked point.

Some spreader sockets allow the spreaders to fold back when the rig is down, but when its up and tensioned, the spreaders are held rigid.

If the spreader is reasonably firm, fore and aft, or designed to become stable when the rig is tensioned up, you haven't got a problem.

How about a photo?
 
Posting photos is for experts!! but thanks for reply.

The sockets are round and 30mm dia. The spreaders are round and 25mm dia maybe 16inch long. Bolt goes through spreader and socket; to prevent losing it?
Mizzen mast jumper stays. The material that was in the socket is hard and brittle and has mostly disappeared consequently the spreader ends can move up/down and forward/back by some distance.

Is it just the stay tension that keeps the speader angles right or do the differences in diameters need addressing
 
Definitely find something to pack the sockets out so that the spreaders are a decent but not tight fit. I dont know what to suggest as the material, a plastic of somekind that is not too soft and reasonably UV resistant.

You are an engineer according to your profile so use a bit of engineering judgement! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Local rigger advised me to use a few layers of large diameter heat-shrink tubing in a similar situation. 3 seasons later, it's still going strong.

Andy
 
I was with a professional rigger when he set my rigging up from scratch.

He stated how vital it was to bisect the angle as suggested and used a wire clamp on each shroud underneath the spreaders to make sure they stay in place at all times.
 
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