spreader clamps

Rog Jones was singing the praises of little clamps that secure to the shrouds to hold up the spreader tips, or rather, to keep them from drooping. These were supposedly available from West Marine. I spent some time with a clerk there who is a sailor and he did not find them in the catalog, nor on the shelf. Better ideas for locating these items? Chris Campbell

Hi Chris - These are also very easy to make at home. Get a small chunk of 3/8" polypropylene. Cut out two 1-1/2-inch diameter circles. Drill the center of the circle to a diameter slightly smaller than your shroud. Sand a slight radius on each sharp edge so that there is nothing to cut or wear your sail. Draw a line through the center and cut the disk in half to make a semicircle. Parallel to and 5/8" from the flat side of the semicircle draw a pencil line along the face of the semicircle. From each side of that line measure inward 3/8" and draw a vertical line perpendicular to it. Use a band saw or hacksaw to cut out that little notch. Set each semicircle upright on a drill press with the flat surface facing downward. Drill a hole down through the center of the notch to take whatever size machine screw you want to use to hold the two halves together. Put your screws and nuts through and attach the little round disks to the shrouds. Slide them up the shrouds to where you want the spreader tips and tighten them up. Making these is about a twenty minute process if you have the right tools. \Rog Cal 29+ #1 Swiss Navy Cal 2-30 #77 St. Lori's Comet _____ From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chris Campbell Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 11:23 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] spreader clamps Rog Jones was singing the praises of little clamps that secure to the shrouds to hold up the spreader tips, or rather, to keep them from drooping. These were supposedly available from West Marine. I spent some time with a clerk there who is a sailor and he did not find them in the catalog, nor on the shelf. Better ideas for locating these items? Chris Campbell

Rog Jones wrote: > > Hi Chris -- > > > > These are also very easy to make at home. Get a small chunk of 3/8" > polypropylene. Cut out two 1-1/2-inch diameter circles. Drill the > center of the circle to a diameter slightly smaller than your shroud. > Thanks, Rog! Now I need to scrounge for polypro. I suppose I could melt down some old long underwear.... Chris Campbell