Westerly Centaur spreader sockets

[captaindagman]

Hi all,
Friends have just bought an Centaur with original mast. We need to remove a spreader socket, repair and replace. It is riveted to the mast but also has a through bolt to attach the lower stays. There is some sort of bush through the socket and mast but we cannot get this out. Does anyone know the design of this bush arrangement or how it can be removed ? Does anyone know who were the makers of the mast ?

All contributions gratefully received.

 

[ashtead]

I suspect the guys at trafalgar might help but we’re they made by Proctor ? I’m sure the westerly owners association is best place to ask though.

 

[TC Tuckton]

What is the problem with the spreader socket? Asking as we have a 1978 Centaur and it would be good to know what to look for. Thanks.

 

[pvb]

Friends have just bought an Centaur with original mast. We need to remove a spreader socket, repair and replace. It is riveted to the mast but also has a through bolt to attach the lower stays. There is some sort of bush through the socket and mast but we cannot get this out. Does anyone know the design of this bush arrangement or how it can be removed ? Does anyone know who were the makers of the mast ?

Centaur masts were originally supplied by Proctor. Proctor were subsequently bought by Selden.

I think the attachment for the lower stays simply involves a piece of tubing through the mast, so that the walls of the mast can't be distorted when the nuts are tightened on the through bolt. I can't see it being a problem if you can't get the tube out.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Centaur masts were originally supplied by Proctor. Proctor were subsequently bought by Selden.

Some Westerlies of that era had IYE masts - the manual covers both them and Proctor.

 

[pvb]

Some Westerlies of that era had IYE masts - the manual covers both them and Proctor.

As far as my dreadful memory goes, the Centaur I bought in 1976 had a Proctor mast. Indeed, I thought that all Centaurs originally had Proctor masts. IYE masts were used on the smaller Jouster and Warwick models, as I recall. But, it was a long time ago, and I stand to be corrected.

 

[JumbleDuck]

As far as my dreadful memory goes, the Centaur I bought in 1976 had a Proctor mast. Indeed, I thought that all Centaurs originally had Proctor masts. IYE masts were used on the smaller Jouster and Warwick models, as I recall. But, it was a long time ago, and I stand to be corrected.

One small investigation later and yes, you are absolutely right. Bad memory on my part, though in my defence my Jouster did have a Proctor mast.

 

[captaindagman]

Thanks everyone for your comments. So far, I have not been able to find a Proctor manual and there is nothing in the Centaur Owners Manual.
The damage has occurred by the spreader being forced back ( about 90 degrees to the mast ) probably when it was off the boat. Perhaps the mast was dropped. This has distorted the socket backing plate and wrenched out a couple of rivets.

I will keep looking.

 

[Boathook]

Need to check carefully that the mast hasn't been damaged as well. If it has who may need to 'plate' the area and either raise or lower the spreaders by a few inches so that the forces from the spreaders are on a different area of the mast.