Damaged spreaders

[irwinsailor]

The pins that hold my spreaders to the mizzen mast would not come out. I used a wheel puller on them and did not realize that I was crushing the spreader. I'm sure that this will cost me plenty to repair or replace. Is there anywhere that I can send them for repair?

[Jeff H]

Any decent spar builder should be able to repair your spreaders for you or if they are beyond repair, build a replica. In a pinch I have also used aircraft repair facilities to do welding for me but you need to make sure that they use the correct rods.

The probable repair will be to bend the damages area back to shape and then weld vertical stiffener bar or bars inside the spreader to prevent the damaged area from crushing again. They may also elect to cut out the damaged area and weld in some new material.

BTW: The last time you were here you were getting ready to leave for the Bahamas. How did that go?

Good luck,
Jeff

[GordMay]

BTW: Coat the spreader pins with anti-sieze compound prior to reinserting them.
Hopefully, it will be a long time before you need to remove them again, but when/if you do ...
Regards,
Gord
PS: Congrat's on selling your house!

[irwinsailor]

Thanks for the ideas. I am stuck here in the north for the time being. We hope to take off this July. I have been waiting for our house to sell, now that it is we are that much closer to the dream. I also have been staying here to settle my Grandma's estate and to bve here for my Dad while he is undergoing cancer treatments. But we are ready!