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KachemakRa

Homer, Alaska

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August 14, 2014 - 1:48 am

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I need to replace the spreaders for my DE 32. Has anyone fabricated aluminum spreaders rather than the wood/glass ones that came with the boat. I contacted LeFiell (makers of my original spreaders) who told me they could make new ones with one of the original for a blank. Interested in weight, cost, and availability (in Alaska).

Scott Carle

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August 14, 2014 - 8:48 am

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Yes,

William Amt did this on his DE32 and said the company could make them on demand now for others. Took me a while to find the post but here is the link to it, it has comments from Bill and Carmine that had the same thing done with a different shop. The one Bill used for his DE32 is a company named Johnson Sails in St Petersburg and they should have the template to make more for DE32's

Custom Spar Shop in St. Petersburg, FL was who did it for Carmine but I can't remember whether he has a DE32 or 38...

Carmine said he paid 350 for his and Bill said his cost 450.

Scott Carle DE38 Cutter s/v Valkyr

KachemakRa

Homer, Alaska

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August 14, 2014 - 9:53 pm

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Thank you for the quick reply. I contacted Johnson Sails (Now Island Nautical). Will keep DE posted.

Rick

Scott Carle

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August 15, 2014 - 8:05 am

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good deal.. sometimes the website pays off 🙂 everyone that posts this sort of info is seriously paying it forward to the rest of us 🙂

Scott Carle DE38 Cutter s/v Valkyr

Jolly Roger

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August 19, 2014 - 1:49 pm

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KachemakRa said:

I need to replace the spreaders for my DE 32. Has anyone fabricated aluminum spreaders rather than the wood/glass ones that came with the boat. I contacted LeFiell (makers of my original spreaders) who told me they could make new ones with one of the original for a blank. Interested in weight, cost, and availability (in Alaska).

When I did the re-rig of my DE 45, from a ketch to a schooner I bought new aluminum spreaders from LeFiel. They made them to fit in the same mast brackets as the old wooden spreaders and they just bolted straight in. The old spruce spreaders were rotten anyway, and I needed the foremast to be racked backwards 30 degrees, so I could brace my yard. I also had them 12" longer, so I could get a better angle on the cap shrouds.

See http://www.schooner-britannia.com

Jonathan Oasis

S/V OASIS

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September 3, 2014 - 6:42 pm

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I thought there was a thread elsewhere about the spreaders.. I had my DE32 spreaders replaced and LeFiell (California) did the work, they should know the dimensions, the unfortunate problem was that they apparently messed up the dimensions on mine, mistaking the full length for full length + square end boot. (Added 2" or 3"?) so now my spreaders are wider than before. Time will tell how much matters to the rigging (after about 1 year I noticed the chainplates have been pushed out a little bit extra).

I also still have my old wood spreaders.. (Kind of wish I had refurbed & reinstalled them, would look much nicer.)

Scott Carle

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September 3, 2014 - 9:07 pm

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I don't like the sound of the tension pushing your chain plates away from the hull.. that means that you are getting back and forth force pushing the bolts in and out as well as the normal sideways/parallel to the hull pulling force. Normal with the slight bend in the chain plates toward the mast it would pull the chain plate up and tight against the hull which is opposite from up and away from the hull. I would keep a close eye on that to make sure that the motion in 3 dimensions doesn't work at the spreaders to create stress cracks nor to create motion in the bolts that could elongate the holes through the hull and weaken the chain plates grip on the hull.

I'm not saying it's unsafe as I don't know all the engineering data for materials and forces but it does sound as if it is not pulling as designed if it is pulling away from the hull.

Scott Carle DE38 Cutter s/v Valkyr

KachemakRa

Homer, Alaska

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September 6, 2014 - 4:34 am

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Thanks for the comments. I contacted Dave Johnson at Island Nautical, maker of many DE spreaders. He gave me directions of how to make measurements. They do not have specific measurements for the DE 32 or others. I also contact LaFiell--they would not make spreaders without one in hand to copy. I also contacted a local aluminum fabricator--maker of boats and other technology--they suggested going with industry that has stock material.

So, I am back to...

1) the florida company that simply wants measurements here is what they sent:

his is a pretty standard thing for us. Standard procedure is to build the new aluminum replacement spreader with a solid block at the inboard end to fit into the bracket which is welded to the extrusion. We taper the outboard end . Usually you would send the old ones in to us but due to the distance involved If you don't want to send these in I would need:

    the width of the bracket on the mast
    the inside (height) dimension between the brackets
    the distance the brackets extend from the mast
    the length overall of the spreader from inboard end to where shroud passes through on outboard end
    the wire diameter of the shroud

The new spreaders will come to you un drilled on the inboard end so you will mark and drill after you get them. Even when we have the old ones in to duplicate we typically drill pilot holes at the inboard end so the owner can line up with bracket holes and drill out. The outboard tip will have a two part screw off tip plus pre drilled holes for seizing wire

with shipping attached....

2) LaFiell--who won't do anything without one of the spreaders in-hand

3) local companies that have never done it.

philip-hoag

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October 30, 2022 - 6:24 pm

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I have a 1978 Downeaster 38 cutter.

It has the original wooden spreaders.

I am shopping, looking for, aluminum replacement spreaders.

I have a message into Island Nautical in Saint Petersburg.

Does anyone have the dimensions for DE 38 spreaders?

My boat is down in San Carlos Mexico on the hard right now and I am in Montana.

I climbed up the mast before I left the boat in Mexico and got measurements, but I misplaced them.

Also wondering if anyone has tried using rectangular aluminum square stock from local metal suppliers?

Does anyone know of any other recommended suppliers?

Thanks,

Philip Hoag

406-223-1699

philip dot hoag at gmail dot com

mgav451

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November 18, 2022 - 9:59 am

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I know your looking to aluminum. I was unable to get mine made of aluminum. So I used Sitka spruce with a strong back then sealed with epoxy awlgrip. Strong and light.