another newbie here- arn't you sick o'them?

[empet]

great helpful trailering hints here - - and I got the beast out of the water and safely back home over 100 miles of hills....

Help is needed:Preparing the beast (26M) - I bent the spreader beyond repair..can anyone help where to find a replacement? .....and I'm sick of these key ring shackles - what a pain! What should I get for replacements? Thanks a lot!

[ROAD Soldier]

I got new ones for my 26X from BWY and then bought 3/4" 6061-T6 pipe not tubing and used pins with latches on them for quick release on speaders when stowing and trailering. I also use duct tape to back up latch from coming loose when sailing.

[hartflat]

Welcome to the world of Mac ownership.

I've been there... & did that

Stop by your local aluminum/SS pipe supplier with your old spreader. Have them cut replacement pieces to size & when you get home, drill matching screw holes on your new pieces. The black plastic shroud retainers on the tips of the old spreaders should still be usable. If not, you can get replacements at the Blue Water Yachts website in Seattle. You may want to replace the existing retaining bolts with spring clevis pins for easy removal of the spreaders when trailering.

The project is pretty easy & should run you $10.00 max.

Good luck

[hartflat]

when replacing the spreaders, make sure the length of the shrouds from the mast to the spreader's shroud retainers match the length listed in the manual... I think that's about 15 ft.

[johnnyonspot]

I definitely like the idea of going to hardware store and buying replacement stock cut to size, rather than buying new ones from BWY. Its should be cheaper, quicker, and will provide you satisfaction of a job well done and money saved. Having said that, I've dealt with BWY and they are good people. Lady I ordered from even used to live real close to my hometown. Small world. Regarding the plastic end pieces, you may consider ordering new ones from BWY as they now come in aluminum and are therefore much more rugged than the plastic ones.

[David Mellon]

I use these clips to replace the clevis pins and bolts for fast rigging:



Others do the same but I feel a picture helps clarify things.

[Jack Sparrow]

Up grade the wall thickness (same od) then counter bore the end that the shroud attachment fitting fits into. This will solve any future bending problems

Jack Sparrow

[empet]

Thank you all - great tips!

[Hardcrab]

..

[tangentair]

Welcome, and no old-timer here has ever expressed any regret over us new-bees. If nothing else they seem to enjoy our reminding them of the silly mistakes they made when we do the same thing. We are not really new, we are just new entertainment.

[Frank C]

Tangent's got that right. It often DOES remind me of past mistakes!

All good info above re spreaders. REgarding the ring-dings, please live with them for the first season before tossing them. Yes, they are a PITA. But nearly every alternative will have an exposed wire that risks catching a sheet or halyard. There's a good reason for the design of ring-dings, and good reason for developing the knack of dealing with 'em!

The clip pictured above is adequate for this one application at the inside spreader connection, and makes it easy to remove the spreaders. I've used that clip at the transom too, in the steering linkage. Generally though, they're not sized or safe enough on the standing rig. And be sure you find them in stainless ... most I've seen aren't.
Welcome aboard & congrats on the new 'baby'.

Sidebar regarding the "spreader dance"
Many X-boaters have modified the lifelines, which makes removing the spreaders unnecessary. See following two threads, and look for reference to a Ronstan mini-shackle. The other mod in same threads relates to Pelican hooks. The Pelican hook mod is unnecessary for the M-boaters. Roger got tired of reading it here, and finally chose to install them at the factory ... LOL!
Quick release lifelines
Instant Life Lines

[Russ]

Congrats on the new baby. I know the feeling well.
We are new as well and can't wait to get her in the water finally. Last night we got another 4 inches of snow dumped on us. It's been a long winter, but this weekend looks like it might be nice enough to dunk her.

RE: Speaders

How did you break it beyond repair?

One of mine got bent a bit. I was concerned that it might be too far. Then I stepped the mast and it seemed to pull back into shape. I'm going to have to watch it and perhaps take some of the recommendations above if it doesn't look okay.

--Russ

[Frank C]

Russ,

The spreader is only ten bucks, but replacing a bent mast is over a BoatBuck~!

I wouldn't trust that spreader, especially if you thought it was "too far."
Discretion's better than valor, especially since dropping a mast can so easily hurt somebody.

[Russ]

Russ,

The spreader is only ten bucks, but replacing a bent mast is over a BoatBuck~!

I wouldn't trust that spreader, especially if you thought it was "too far."
Discretion's better than valor, especially since dropping a mast can so easily hurt somebody.

You know, that's an excellent point!

I'm going to have to take another look.

One thing that might be different. I was looking at pics of other masts and the spreaders look different. Mine are not designed to be straight. They have a bend where they attach to the mast mounting bracket. Both spreaders connect to one bracket in the front and then bend back. So replacement with stock pipe might not be an option unless I can find someone with a tube bender.

This isn't my boat, but the same mast and spreaders. See how they are bent where they attach to the mast.


--Russ

[Frank C]

I didn't realize the M-spreaders aren't simply straight tubing.
(Sorry, X-itis fixation here!)
So ... that means it's prolly $35 instead of $10.
My other comments are remaining unchanged.