Association Forum - Droopy Spreaders

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Capri 25 Specific Forum

Droopy Spreaders

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

leebitts
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
122 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/06/2008 : 08:08:21

I noticed last night when I got off my boat that the spreaders seemed to be drooping a bit. Can't say that I remember if they have always done that or not but it does seem from a structural standpoint that they should be parallel with the deck. Is this correct? Any suggestions on how to repair without taking the mast down?

LeeBitts
1981 Capri 25 Hull # 142
Sailing in NH and Maine

Edited by - on

leebitts
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
122 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2008 : 05:46:11

I just read the architectural drawings (in Manuals and Brochures) and if I'm reading it right it looks to be showing that the spreaders should be pointing up 5 degrees, can anyone confirm that? I'm going to try pushing the end up with my spinnaker pole. Any thoughts?

thanks

Edited by - on

joearcht
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2008 : 07:52:10

I discovered a similar problem when I purchased my boat. The spreaders were very loose and could move up and down about 15 degrees. First I thought about trying to tie the outboard end of the spreader to the shroud, but decided that would not be satisfactory. After a little research and question asking, I determined that the spreader should be relatively rigid and as you say at a 5 degree angle up from horizontal as well as the foil should be rotated 8 degrees up relative to the axis of the boat. Upon closer inspection I found that the mast end of the spreaders was fatigued and stretched so that a rigid connection was no longer possible. Additionally I discovered that my mast fitting was different then the one depicted in the Catalina Yacht's drawings that are available. I solved the problem by purchasing new foil sections from a website. I don't remember the profile, but I can look it up and provide it for you if you desire to go that route. I think the pair cost me about $75.00. I cut and drilled them to match the existing and they fit onto the mast fitting perfectly and I now have a very rigid spreader connection. I also replaced the spreader tips, could not find a type similar to my existing tips but the same website that sold the spreader section also sold tips to match and they seem to work fine.

Edited by - on

leebitts
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
122 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2008 : 16:00:29

Hi Joe,

If you could find the website that had them that would be great

Many thanks

charlie

Edited by - on

joearcht
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2008 : 08:09:03

I purchased spreaders from www.RigRite.com.
The model number was K-SP22.
I bought 32" for each spreader and trimmed them with a radial arm saw to the exact length of the originals.
I also bought new spreader tips K-10777P, but I think the originals would have worked fine.
I'll try to email you a couple of .pdf files that represent what my boats fittings look like.
Like I said, I've seen drawings for two different mast fittings for this boat and one type will not work with this spreader in my opinion (because of the internal extrusions).
My memory was off on the price, the cost was more like $75.00 each instead of for the pair. Sorry.

Edited by - on

joearcht
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2008 : 08:46:46

Well Charlie, I can't figure out how to post any drawings to this forum.
So, you can view the spreader blade drawing on the Manuals & Brochures/Capri 25/Selected Architectural Drawings .pdf page (you've probably already seen this). Page 12 is the same drawing I have. Page 13 is for the mast fitting I do NOT have. I have another Catalina drawing of the "Spreader Assembly" drawing no. A-2 dated 8/5/80. I do not remember where I got this drawing, but it is not on this forum website where I can find. If you would like a copy of this drawing then email me at joearcht@jwha.net and I'll attach it to the reply.

Edited by - on

leebitts
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
122 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2008 : 07:29:14

Thanks Joe, I did send you my email address for the pdf. On Tuesday when I am next at the boat, I think I'm going to try clipping two haylards together with a line coming down attached to them. By hooking the two haylards together I think I can make a loop under the spreader and if I can get it to the end of the spreader, just ooch them up a tiny bit.

Then do spreader replacement next year.

Edited by - on

joearcht
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2008 : 07:52:45

I think you will find that they are easy to push back up. Mine were not attached to the shrouds in any way. The drawing shows a wedge, but mine did not have that. After pushing mine back up and sailing again, I noticed they would work themselves back down, due to the tensioning and relaxing of the shrouds during various conditions. Tightening the shrould would probably benefit in keeping the spreader up longer, but may have other disadvantages to the rig.

Edited by - on

Ericson33
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 18:26:21

I fixed mine with some thick 1/8" leather. I wrapped the mast end of the spreader, wrapped rigging tape around the leather, then refitted it into the bracket. I used stainless bolts washers and locknuts to attach.

Edited by - on

leebitts
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
122 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2008 : 08:26:05

I'm not going to do a permanent solution until the end of the season. I did come up with a nifty way to straighten them out though. I attached a line to a halyard shackle, then attached the shackle to the shroud and raised it up. It lifts the spreader up just nice, then pull the line down.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.