Hi Tom,

On my 30 MK I (single-spreader rig) there was damage to my starboard spreader 
bracket and mast where it fastens as a result of my buddy towing the rig 
through a big cottonwood tree after hauling out in fall 2018.  With advice from 
Dennis Cheuvront on the list here, I repaired the damage by straightening the 
bracket and fastening a 1/4” aluminum plate over the dent in the mast (and 
shortening the spreader accordingly).  The repair held solid as a rock in the 
2019 season and I sailed in some big wind.

Here’s a thread on it in the archives, with a link to some pictures: 
http://cnc-list.com/pipermail/cnc-list_cnc-list.com/2019-May/207014.html 
<http://cnc-list.com/pipermail/cnc-list_cnc-list.com/2019-May/207014.html>.

My mast has a hole in both sides through which a bolt (threaded on both ends) 
is inserted, over which the spreader brackets are inserted with nuts to 
compress them against the mast.  I spent a lot of time thinking (and discussing 
with Dennis) about the function of that bolt and nuts.  The windward spreader 
imparts a compression force on the mast, opposed by the windward lower shroud.  
Since my bolt doesn’t have shoulders or go through a compression tube in the 
mast, I believe the purpose of the bolt and nuts is only to keep the windward 
lower shroud tension from pulling the bracket away from the mast (otherwise 
it’s only fastened by four screws).  The mast is sufficiently stout that the 
spreader’s compression force hasn’t deflected it in almost 50 years of sailing 
- it took some tree trimming to do that.

Cheers,
Randy Stafford
S/V Grenadine
C&C 30 MK I #79
Ken Caryl, CO

> On Jan 8, 2020, at 2:45 PM, Tom Alessi via CnC-List <[email protected]> 
> wrote:
> 
> Went to check up on my boat the other day and found that my lower port 
> spreader bracket had been pulled off the mast, but still attached to 
> spreader.  Seems a nearby sailboat owner had not removed the jib and it came 
> unfurled during a storm and caught hold of the spreader boot. I can only 
> imagine it violently shaking my spreader and rig. With the bracket partially 
> off I can see a hole in the mast.
> - Is that some kind of access opening behind the bracket? Or is it worse than 
> that? I'm buried in the yard and the mast won't be down till spring.
> -If the bracket or spreader is destroyed, does anyone know of a source for 
> replacements?
> - Boat owner or Boatyard responsible?
> Appreciate any info.
>  
> Tom Alessi
> Andiamo C&C 36
> 646-283-1580
>  
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions.  Each and 
> every one is greatly appreciated.  If you want to support the list - use 
> PayPal to send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray 
> <https://www.paypal.me/stumurray>
_______________________________________________

Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions.  Each and 
every one is greatly appreciated.  If you want to support the list - use PayPal 
to send contribution --   https://www.paypal.me/stumurray

Reply via email to