New Wooden Spreaders

[redtailseven]

The spreader mounts on my mast are twisted and the spreader bars are bent. I'm finally getting to this part of the restoration.
Since I have various hardwoods in my shop,.I have trimmed the cuddy with laminated cherry panels. Is there any reason why I shouldn't make a bracket matching the existing rivet holes (using bolts through the brackets and the corresponding rivet holes) out of cherry or maple.. The spreader would be mounted with wing nuts so I could remove it easily when stowing the mast.

[algonquin]

If you have the talent and the material I would say go for it. My DS is pretty stock but I have done quite a bit of customizing on other boats I have owned using various hard woods. It will look nice and salty. I recommend sealing it with a good sealer or poly on all sides/surfaces before the installation. Brad

[redtailseven]

Thanks Brad,
That's probably all te encouragement that I need. I think "salty" is what I'm looking for. Seems like something on the mast ought to be wood. Of course, I'll probably drop the mast on it and splinter the thing next spring. I'd better save a pattern.
Greg

[algonquin]

I plan to add some additional woodwork to my DSI. I don't race it and want to add some "salty" effects to dress it out. Have a bowsprit already completed that will have an eagle figure head mounted under it. Many more mini wood projects to follow that will hopefully be completed by spring. I will post some pics as the project moves along but that won't be to soon though. Brad

[redtailseven]

I thought about a bowsprit also. Do you plan to make it purely ornamental or can you do something with the jib to "justify" it. When I read your post, I thought about putting a larger jib that could be reefed somehow to the standard size or let out to use on a broadreach in light winds. Winds tend to drop off in the evenings here and I end up paddeling in. Perhaps the jib could be moved forward as it is unleashed. This is purely speculative and I don't know enough about sail geometry to make sense but it sounds good if you want to justify more "saltiness."
Greg

[algonquin]

My bowsprit is about 72 inches long and will extend out about 34 inches from the bow and will basically serve to provide a mounting place for my eagle carving below it. It does also have a few other purposes besides just looking salty. It gives a nice extension from the boat to aid in launching and recovery from the trailer. Also great for ramming misguided power boats. I will be mounting some anchoring hardware on it too. My jib hardware will only move about 5 inches forward from its current location so I don’t anticipate much of a geometry problem to the stock sail plan. Eventually I would like to fly a light air jib forward in addition to the existing jib. That would basically make the boat a “cutter” rig. You need to be careful though because with the design of the hull and the light weight of the boat you can quickly overpower and find yourself in trouble. If you do plan to fly a jib from the end of the bowsprit you should use a furling system to aid in tending the jib. Brad

[jcalvinmarks]

Any update on the outcome of the wooden spreader concept? I really like the idea of having spreaders that aren't just aluminum tubing. I had to replace one already, and it is already bent slightly at the connection with the bracket.

[GreenLake]

um, what redtailseven described was a project to make the spreader brackets out of wood - not necessarily the whole spreaders.

You want to pay some attention to weight, that far up the mast.

About bending the spreaders. I figure this happens when the spreader slides down as you raise the mast. If you tighten the stays, the spreader is at the wrong angle and gets bent.

Taping it to the stay might help keep it in position.