Problem with spreaders resting on lifelines. How to fix ?

[pokerrick1]

I do the Mac dance as it turns the Admiral on

To WHAT

Rick

PS Although the MacDance does get me hot and sweaty

[Bransher]

I always find it interesting to read that so many of you disconnect the spreaders. It seemed like a good idea, but when I tried it on my 2005 M that was only 6 months old at the time, they would not budge. Even tried using a very large pair of channel-locks in an attempt to turn them, but all I succeeded in doing was screwing up the outer finish on the spreaders. They may as well have been welded in because even penetrating oil did not help.

So I am forced to keep on dancing. I may be ready for the Dancing With The Stars TV show by now.

[K9Kampers]

The Mac Dance rules!

...or just lose the cabintop life...er...laundry lines altogether!

[Russ]

For the past 3 years, I have been stuffing the spreaders under the lifelines. Bent one in the process. Today, at de-rigging, I unbolted the spreaders. Wow!!! So much easier than messing with them.

Note to self: Unbolt spreaders. Life easier.


--Russ

[Hamin' X]

Pelican hooks on the lifelines. Life is sweet!

~Rich

[Highlander]

Pelican hooks on the lifelines. Life is sweet!

~Rich

Amen , got them on the rear & cockpit lifelines but will be puting them on the front also

J

[Paul S]

I always find it interesting to read that so many of you disconnect the spreaders. It seemed like a good idea, but when I tried it on my 2005 M that was only 6 months old at the time, they would not budge. Even tried using a very large pair of channel-locks in an attempt to turn them, but all I succeeded in doing was screwing up the outer finish on the spreaders. They may as well have been welded in because even penetrating oil did not help.

So I am forced to keep on dancing. I may be ready for the Dancing With The Stars TV show by now.

They can be in quite firm.. more you R+R them the easier it gets.. very strange they are in that tight they wont budge..

You will HAVE to get them out at some point when they bend (and they will!)

Maybe a little bit of heat will be enough to break them free. You should probably order a spare pair from bluewater just to have.. It is not a matter of if, but when they will get bent!

Got VERY tired of coming in from a long day of sailing..then have to deal with the mast with the roller and genny on it...doing the 'dance'. The quick pins are a great option to try, IMO anyway.

Paul

Paul

[Paul S]

For the past 3 years, I have been stuffing the spreaders under the lifelines. Bent one in the process. Today, at de-rigging, I unbolted the spreaders. Wow!!! So much easier than messing with them.

Note to self: Unbolt spreaders. Life easier.


--Russ

Amazing what $5 worth of hardware can do to make life easier! Mine are not stainless, but seem to be holding up well after a few years of service.

[ALX357]

I used to unclip my lifelines, ( had shackles added to the back ends of the fore-lifelines, ) to allow them to relax and dip below the spreaders when the mast is in transport position. I had moved the Genoa up higher, which allowed me to attach the fore end of the fore lifelines to the top rails of the bow pulpit, instead of at the base, so one thing enabled another, and I gained visibility as well as deck safety at the bow.

Last year I cut 8 inches off each spreader, and re-drilled holes to fasten at the sockets. Now the MacDance is easier and faster to be done, and the Genoa can be sheeted closer even when left in the regular located aft blocks near the helm.

Being shorter they are less likely to be bent or kinked, and less likely to buckle under stress, so the overall rig seems just as strong.

[Russ]

Last year I cut 8 inches off each spreader, and re-drilled holes to fasten at the sockets.
...
Being shorter they are less likely to be bent or kinked, and less likely to buckle under stress, so the overall rig seems just as strong.

I wouldn't sleep well with shorter spreaders. As we know, most of the stock Mac hardware is barely adequate. Reducing anything makes me nervous. Especially for such a small benefit.

--Russ

[ALX357]

Several of us board members who have shortened the spreaders have reported no problems, but perhaps anything that can happen will.

'Just curious, as why would shorter spreaders cause the rig to fail ? If this could be open to discussion, where exactly would be the increased tendency for failure, as far as structure or materials ? Several mast failures have occurred with the stock-length spreaders buckling, and their length-to-diameter ratio may be too great for adequate strength as they are. The stock spreader length is 44" and with 8" taken off, they are now 36", not a huge change, and the Genoa's sheeting angle being impoved is significant.

I have seen a S2 sailboat, about 23 feet I think, next to mine in the slip I used to rent, and its spreaders were considerably shorter than the Mac stock ones. 'Mast about the same height, and beam somewhat less as well.

The assumption that the Mac rig was precisely designed with minimum requirements of geometry, that cannot be safely modified within reason, seems unfounded. Despite warnings about raising the Genoa about a foot higher, there have been no problems even in high sailing winds.

If the Mac was that marginal, for its intended purpose, there would be many more failures than we hear of.

I guess only time will tell, as to the shorter spreaders reliability effects on the rig.

[Russ]

Hey, it's hard to argue with success. Especially when several have done it without problems.

I'm no mechanical engineer, but Mac hardware makes me nervous as is. Maybe it's reading these forums too much.
There must be a good engineer who might know more (thinking waternwaves) and chime in on shortening the spreaders. It sounds like it's working well for you.

--Russ

[Catigale]

The stock spreader length is 44" and with 8" taken off, they are now 36", not a huge change, and the Genoa's sheeting angle being impoved is significant.

Thats a 20% change, and that is not small.

More importantly, you are changing the angle at which the shrouds provide lateral stability quite a bit. I havent done the calculation to see how much moment arm you are losing, but it will be significant.

[Highlander]

By shortening the spreaders 8" you have defently weakened the support structure, remember that the chain plates are further aft on the M to accomadate the longer spreaders so you have weakened the mast side support of your upper shrouds and I would not recomend fly a spinnaker

J

[3sheets]

Hi: Not to get off topic, but I suspend my mast between the bow pulpit and the stern brace which raises it about to the lifeline hight. The mast was a"little saggy" so I made a built-up 2x4 block to bolt into the step. It also gives me another secure place to tie the mast down. of course I only have a little M25 not the bigger 26, so I don't know if that makes a difference. The way I see it, the less I have to assemble the better I like it...
Robert