Spreader: reuse 1 that broke at the scored line next 2 mast?

[Hardcrab]

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[Newell]

Both of my spreaders failed at the same time when my boat was 5 or 6 years old and I had just completed 3 days of high wind sailing in hot weather on Lake Mead, NV. I was using the mast raising and lowering system then, and as I began to lower the mast, both spreaders fell away at the mast end. There were 3 Xs de-rigging together and we were all amazed, curious and concerned about what could have happened.

The factory replaced them when told of the situation by several of us, (no-cost). I never used the new ones. I shortened the old ones, I won't say how much, since there will be all sorts of comments, but they have served very well. Last year I disassembled them and there isn't any noticeable wear.

[teddadbear]

I like Frank C's idea about shortening both spreaders to the same length, which would happen to use the scoring on the other side as my mark for the sawing, or should I use a copper pipe pipe cutter? Except for 2 trips to Hilton Head, I'm a fresh water sailer so the chemical reactions are not as potent. Mine's a 1997, so in another 11 years I may have to do this again or finally splurge for some stainless steel if this board is still around and recommends it. Many thanks.

[Frank C]

When my mast came down over the winter, the spreader snapped cleanly at the end where it inserts into the mast ...

More info: the forestay snapped in some high winds pounding the furled jib. Nobody hurt (no one was around; did it make a sound?). The forestay, the spreader, the starboard shroud, and a 2" plate for the base of the mast raising kit appear to be the the only losses.

Yeah, I think you can shorten them equally and still be just fine. However, I'm just noticing your "more info" comment. High winds pounding the boat, either on its trailer, or worse yet, on a mooring, are a common source of rig failure. Proper rig tuning is important to ease the rigging punishment those winds were inducing.

Be sure to read the Bruce's Rig Tuning Primer. See Featured Articles (button-left).
Was your boat mast-up on the trailer? Was your mast undamaged?~~!!

[teddadbear]

I understood the impact of tuning the rig for sailing performance in races, but hadn't considered the impact on safety and component longevity. I'll tune it once I get the replacement pieces and I'm back sailing; someone in my Cave Run Sailing Association http://caverunsailing.org/ has a Loos tension gauge I'll borrow. Thanks for the article reference.

Boat was mast up on trailer. The mast doesn't appear to be bent beyond the original, I believe, bending fore in the lengthwise middle. In other words, when the mast will be stepped, the midpoint up the mast will be bowed toward the bow, as I believe it always has. I'm sure there are better sailing terms to describe that bending!

The storage yard is right across the street from the ramp, with no power line interference, so I can keep my mast up when taking my boat out of or putting it into the water. It’s not as convenient as a slip, but to me nearly as convenient to a mooring ball without all the impact of keeping the boat in the water year round. The lake is an hour away, and I thought I'd be going back for another sail before winter hit. I will make it a priority to take the mast down late in the season so the rigging doesn’t get pounded over the winter.