[C38] Spreaders

Mon Jul 14 16:50:05 EDT 2008

Hi again Russ,

I am not familiar with the description of your spreader attachment points but when I got my boat 15 yrs ago, I installed small stainless hose clamps at the spreader ends on the shrouds to hold the spreader tips at the proper angle.

As you know, the shroud angles should be the same above and below the spreader but mine drooped until I put the hose clamps on to secure the spreader tips.  Crude, cheap and simple but it has worked fine for 15 yrs.  I can stand on the spreaders and they don't budge.

Tom Troncalli

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Duff, Russ (R.W.) 
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Sent: 7/14/2008 1:30:28 PM 
Subject: [C38] Spreaders

OK, new topic. While coming back down the mast, I decided to inspect my spreader attachment points because they seem to always sag even after shoving them back up. It seems that with the way they attach, there is no way to hold them at the correct angle. The “ears” on the mast bracket seem much wider than the “tab” that is to fit between them which would allow for a lot of up and down movement. Also, with the “tab” being held in just by a pin, not a nut and bolt, seems to add to the sloppiness of the assembly. Should they be this wide, or have they bent, spreading them apart and creating extra space? Is this how everyone else’s attach, or is there another method.

Sincerely,
Russ Duff
Catalina 38, Hull #112
"AVANTURA"
Lake Erie
Grosse Ile, Michigan
RDUFF AT VISTEON DOT COM
AVANTURA AT COMCAST DOT NET

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org [mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Duff, Russ (R.W.)
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 12:45 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: [C38] Up the mast without a backstay? (Was BindingHalyards/Masthead)

Well, I went up the mast yesterday to try to find out why my halyards were binding. I double-checked everything before going up and found only the main halyard was jammed; not also the jib as I previously thought. Isn’t it great when a job gets simpler? I then went up the mast and once at the masthead I saw that the problem was just that the halyard had jumped out of the sheave and was between it and the center divider (no dead animals down inside somewhere!). Nothin’ like an easy fix! Well, I gave up almost two hours later with the halyard still in the same position, and after having used three different sized screwdrivers that were sent up by bucket, and using various attachments on my Leatherman. There is just too much stuff hanging off of the aft end of the masthead (namely the topping lift and backstay toggle) to get anything in there effectively and pry the wire out. So, I am planning to head up there again and remove the topping lift and backstay so that I can have full access. I am also going to bring a piece of steel a little bigger than a metal ruler which should enable being able to push the wire into position. My question to everyone is, is it ok to go up our masts without the backstay connected (would there be enough support from the aft lower shrouds), or should a temporary stay be rigged from somewhere above one of the sets of spreaders before removing the backstay and going up?  Thanks.
Sincerely,
Russ Duff
Catalina 38, Hull #112
"AVANTURA"
Lake Erie
Grosse Ile, Michigan
RDUFF AT VISTEON DOT COM
AVANTURA AT COMCAST DOT NET

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org [mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Russ and Karleen Duff
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 1:36 AM
To: 'Catalina 38 Listserve'
Subject: [C38] Binding Halyards/Masthead

I finally got the motor put back together and running, and now I have a problem with my main and jib halyards; they are both badly binding. I have no idea what could be causing this except that either the halyard sheaves are frozen, or maybe one, or both, of the lines have come off-track (they were fine at haul out at the end of the season). I am planning to go up the mast tomorrow to inspect things and hope for an easy fix.  If it isn’t, and I need to dig deeper inside, how does the masthead come off? Can it be removed with the mast up? I wouldn’t think so because aren’t the fore and aft stays connected to it?  If it can’t come off, is there any way to access the sheaves while it is on? This s_cks, I finally get the motor fixed, and now it’s something else (I guess that’s what you get with a 27 year old boat). Any advice would be appreciated. 

Sincerely,
Russ Duff
Catalina 38, Hull #112
"AVANTURA"
Lake Erie
Grosse Ile, Michigan
AVANTURA AT COMCAST DOT NET

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