Attaching Spreader to Post

[hillside]

Hi All,

Big fan of the forum, been totally invaluable as I try to bring my recently acquired 30-yr old boat back to "Bluewater" condition. This is my first post so hopefully everything works.

I have a custom (read home-built) boat. During the survey it was pointed out that a few of the spreaders are not attached to their inner posts. I suppose the danger is if the mast flexes very heavily the entire spreader could come off. All of the spreaders have multiple drill holes top and bottom, some of which have holding rivets, but most are empty as I am guessing the rivets came out as the spreaders flexed. Pics attached.

So my question to the group is how to best attached the spreader to its post. I can't reuse many of the holes so I was considering to fill the old holes with metal epoxy and either:
1. Drill new holes and put in fairly deep new rivets.
2. Drill a hole through the entire width of the spreader about 4cm from the edge, and insert perhaps a 6mm stainless bolt with protection on top and bottom to prevent corrosion with the aluminum.

Comments most appreciated.

[SkiprJohn]

I like the idea of the stainless bolt so you can remove it again when needed. Coat it with something that would not let it oxidize and adhere to the aluminum as you suggested. I'd use Tef-Gel which is an idea I got from forum contributors.
kind regards,

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Hillside,

Since the purpose of the fastener is simply to prevent the spreader from dropping off if unloaded, a single 6mm throughbolt will easily do the job. Under normal conditions there will be no load on it, so you could even put a nylon (or other plastic) sleeve around the bolt so that there was no contact between it and the aluminium. Nylon washers under the head and the nut would help too.

On another subject: is your boat called Grand Duc, built and sailed for years by a terrific sailor and character called Alaine along with his SO, Michelle IIRC? If so, it has a great history of successful voyages, and is strong as hell.

Cheers,

Jim

[david samuelson]

Hi Hillside,
When you are pounding to weather your spreaders, aided by the weight of shrouds, will move viciously fore and aft and need to be held in place. Advise you put a couple of bolts and, as SkiprJohn says, use some Tefgel.

[DeepFrz]

Looking at the corrosion I would suggest you pull the mast and do a proper refit.