Hi there!
I just stepped the masts and put all the rigging up for the season. Just as we were about to finish everything and the crane was lifting me in my bosun's chair to wire and tape on the boots at the end of the spreaders, the crane hook weight acidentally hooked in the spreader and moved it up the cap shroud about 4 inches or so. I yanked it back down and wired the end but now there is a fair amount of slop in the spreader if you yank the shroud forward and aft. I don't see any cracks anywhere so I assume it simply widened the end of the spreader and clevis pin hole where it meets the mast. Anybody have any ideas on how big a deal some slop like this is? As I take the rig down every year, it will come down again in October so I can fix everything properly then. I'm not really interested in hauling everything down right now if I don't have to. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Regards,
Kier and Stacey Knudsen
S/V Bedlamer
365 Ketch
Griquet, Newfoundland
I had a similar issue with one spreader flopping around slightly more than the other. I was told that it was normal and that a little play is okay as it allows you adjust the correct spreader angle without actually bending the spreader. The 2 angles the spreader makes with the shroud should be equal which will angle the spreader up a few degrees relative to the mast. This ensures that the spreader pushes directly into the mast under load. I tightened my cap shrouds so that leeward shroud would be "softer" but not flopping around or loose while under sail in 15-20 knots. With this tension, you can move the spreaders a little if yank on the shroud but they certainly don't flop around under way.
Thanks for the reply. I haven't got the boat in the water yet but hope to this week. I climbed the mast yesterday and had a good look at it. The clevis pin hole is deformed slightly on the top but the main issue is the spreader end being widened where if fits over the male bracket. When I yank on the shroud I'd say the end of the spreader will move back and forth a good six inches. Not sure if it will slop around when the opposite side is under tension, possibly. I will check it out I guess when I sail it back to my house. If it does slop around a bit underway, I'm wondering if I put a stainless steel strap overlaping the spreader end and mast bracket just to keep it from moving too much might be OK for the season? Any suggestions?
Regards,
Kier
1979 365 Ketch