Spreaders CD25 Bent

[Tom Foley]

My port spreader bent, and I am in process of replacing both on my 1974 CD25, Heather. I took a ladder to the mast and removed the bent one. I found that the spreader is 1" diameter aluminum tube 1/16" thick and 30" long plus the tip. I went to my local Ace hardware store and purchased two four foot lengths for $6.19 each. The hardware guy suggested I also purchase two 7/8" birch dowels to place inside for reinforcement. Total cost $24.13 vs. about 30-60 dollars each (plus shipping) from a rigging company.

[Zeida]

Tom, you will have stronger and better spreaders now. I did the same to my 1980 CD-25. Way to go!

[Steve Laume]

While I have very limited knowledge on this subject, I do know that all aluminum alloys are not the same. There is some very strong stiff tubing and others that are soft and malleable. Wall thicknesses of the same alloy also vary. Some is plain and some is anodized. It would seem that the combination of metal and wood, would be strong enough to do the job. Sealing the dowel with epoxy would have provided an added bit of security. You could have bonded the whole thing together as one composite piece. Sealing the end grain of the dowel would be a very good idea. If the dowel rots away inside of the tube you will have no way of knowing that your spreader has been compromised. If you needed it for strength in the first place, you will lose that component. If the wood even starts to get soft if will hold water like a sponge and start to corrode the aluminum. There are numerous suppliers of aluminum tubing that could deliver spreader material that would meet the original specifications. Look up metal fabricators in your phone book or try Dwyer Mast in CT. I want to have total faith in my rig without a nagging bit of worry over some small item. If it is cosmetic item on the boat I don't have problem improvising. For the price a a nice dinner out that is the entire rig we are talking about. Again this is only an opinion coming from someone who has little knowledge of the strength of materials involved. My limited knowledge is why I would not be comfortable with the arrangement, Steve.

[Tom Foley]

Zeida and Steve
Thanks for your info. Steve, I have not assembled the spreaders yet and I will go the epoxy route.

[Tom Foley]

I used Marine-Tex epoxy to seal the birch dowel inside the aluminum tube. Before climbing the mast I attached The spreader tip to the stay with new stainless wire and put on a new boot. When I placed the new spreader in the base it would not go in far enough. So I tried a little WD-40. No help. I then sanded the new spreader and tried again. No good. I then tried sanding the inside of the base and found a large nut on the end of the bolt that holds the bases together on the mast. I thought they were each held by the four screws on the outside. So I removed the boot and wire, went down the mast and drove home to drill a hole in the end of the dowel so the nut would fit inside the spreader. Success! I then removed the other spreader. This time I cut the dowel a half inch shorter so it should fit.