I noticed my top starboard spreader is bent today . Why would this happen ???

Hi ss
spreaders work only in compression
possible spreader has slipped down shroud,so that it doesn't bisect the angle with the shroud,leading to torsion forces bending it
my 2cents worth

An external force had been applied to it ...... or, (going out on a limb here) it was a very heavy gull. That's all I got.

Which way are they bent?

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rumblefish said..
Which way are they bent?

think up, cant remember!, but ive just been told by a friend whos boat is next to mine that its been that way for ages and he kept forgetting to tell me!
His reply was "its probably been in contact with something it should not have" makes sense!

I'm guessing it's continuous wire running through the spreader, eg. the wire not terminated at the spreader?

Up is strange as the force from the angle of the wire above the spreader forces the spreader down.

geez i shoulda made a better mental note or tried to take a pic. yes continous wire running through the spreader.
Its like its been knocked. maybe previous owner hit a bridge or something

i just had a thought. when i first got the boat i was out one time with all sails up, over powered downwind. i think i may have done it then.
CLOSE THE THREAD

Thankyou Steve, I was getting worried there when you mention "Bridge"!!!!

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Sectorsteve said..
geez i shoulda made a better mental note or tried to take a pic. yes continous wire running through the spreader.
Its like its been knocked. maybe previous owner hit a bridge or something

Trouble is SectorSteve know one in this forum would have know if the spreader was up or down with your photo

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HG02 said..

Sectorsteve said..
geez i shoulda made a better mental note or tried to take a pic. yes continous wire running through the spreader.
Its like its been knocked. maybe previous owner hit a bridge or something

Trouble is SectorSteve know one in this forum would have know if the spreader was up or down with your photo

truuuueeee

Spreader still bent upwards....using binocs i cant see much. Need to get up there but I'm too fat.

The cap shroud is critical for the stability of the mast.

If the shroud is tight, then at least it is supporting the mast. However, if the spreader is bent, it is weak and could buckle. Buckled spreader=loose shroud=potential dismast. (See Crash test boat on YBW web site.)

Can you send a Go Pro type camera aloft on a halliard?

How old is the rigging? More than 10 years, then maybe it is worthwhile dropping the mast and fitting new standing rigging at the same time as sorting the spreader.

Im pretty sure all is well on the cap shroud. What i can see with Binocs is maybe a slight buckle on the plate where the spreader connects to the mast. the spreader itself isnt bent its just not sitting right and is angled slightly upwards.
Its pretty hard to see though from below. its the top spreader, probably about 7.5 metres up.

Supposedly this has been like this a while without my knowing and ive taken the boat in some pretty gnarly offshore stuff with the spreader in this condition.
Now that im aware of it, im a bit worried and wanna get it fixed but as with most things in my life i try to do it myself first - or assess whether i think i can.

Ive been offered some help from the guys i race with as its really no biggie for them to go up masts often, however i do need to replace halyards and sheets first as i dont trust them to hoist anyone up.

Im really not sure the age of the standing rigging but it looks really sound to me, but then i wouldnt know. THe stays, shrouds and turnbuckles all look fairly new, but before i embark up north next year and inspection and possible re rig is on the list of things to get done.

Thanks heaps for the Gopro tip Yarra. I will give that a go next week! great idea

Sent the go pro up today and it turns out the SB spreader which is the bent one isnt as bad as the port spreader which is seperating at the mast from the rivets.

thats a great use of gopro !!!!

Good for navigating shallow waters maybe!!

It would be far easier to just drop the mast and fix the problem. Lowering a Tophat mast by yourself is not that hard using a pair of poles. The photo is not my boat but I used the same method to lower my old 26 footers mast. It was surprisingly light and easier than climbing a small yachts mast. The state of the sheaves is the biggest worry climbing an old yacht mast.

Not a bad idea ramona. Ive got a great stash of bamboo which im using for everything atm. Thatll work. Ill wait til i get Spreader lights, lazy jacks lines and new halyards then do it.
Mast is 9m. How big should the poles be?

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Sectorsteve said..
Not a bad idea ramona. Ive got a great stash of bamboo which im using for everything atm. Thatll work. Ill wait til i get Spreader lights, lazy jacks lines and new halyards then do it.
Mast is 9m. How big should the poles be?

About a metre above the spreader is ample.