by Guest » Tue Aug 17, 2004 4:53 pm
What rivets? I have a 1977 DS II; its spreaders (that spread the side stays) are attached to the mast with Clevis pins on the mast end and have notches in which the stays fit on the outer end. I'm replacing them with spreaders from D&R marine, which are identical to the existing ones. At the stay end, the stays are wrapped with stainless steel wire which is passed through a hole in the outer end of the spreader. This keeps the stay from popping out of the spreader end when the mast is unstepped.
If you have rivets holding the spreaders to the mast, consider replacing them with clevis pins.
I broke one spreader by cutting a corner too close while trailering the boat, cliping a neighbor's mailbox. So I ordered a replacement pair.
Ah, well.
Bo Rowe (rowerw-at-comcast.net)