[C320-list] Selden Spreader End Cap Installation Query

[Robert E. Sloat]

Stephen-I have hull 894 (2002) with Charleston spars and the spreaders are
not clamped to any of the shrouds.  On my rig, both the upper and lower
spreaders slide into mast brackets
which align the angle of each spreader to the mast to maintain some pre-set
angle where they meets the various shrouds to optimize strength of the rig.

I assume when mast tuning for this kind of a masthead rig you would not want
the spreader end attached to the shroud in a way that would move the
spreader end so as to change the pre-set  angle possibly straining or
breaking the spreader bracket on the mast or changing the pre-set angle at
the shroud.

For Selden, it may be different.  I assume some folks here in the N.
hemisphere with Selden rigging on more recent C320s and who have dropped
their masts for the season could chime in on whether the ends of their
spreaders are tighten on to the shrouds.

The second hole in the top spreader end shown in your picture may be used
for a smaller diameter shroud if the same type of end fitting is used on a
lower spreader where both the upper and intermediate shrouds pass through
the lower spreader end.  Also, if you look up the cap shroud to its
attachment point at the mast and down to its chain plate on deck, it should
be fairly clear which hole in the top spreader the cap shroud should go
through.

I picked up a very detailed Selden mast tuning guide booklet a few years ago
at a local
boat show and did not find any reference to clamping shrouds to spreader
ends for masthead, in-line, multiple spreader rigs like ours.  The booklet
is about 5 years old and was available on line from Selden's website as a
pdf document.

Bob Sloat
Savannah 894
Chicago Area

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Cox" <scox at timmin.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 7:32 AM
Subject: [C320-list] Selden Spreader End Cap Installation Query


I am in the process of preparing Tegwen #1141 for a trip from Batemans Bay
down the NSW coast and across Bass Strait to Hobart, Tasmania, then a
circumnavigation of Tasmania and finally the return across Bass Strait and
back to her home port of Batemans Bay.  This is a potentially "heroic" trip
and so I am wanting everything to be as right as I can make it.

This week I had the rigging checked and tuned. (It has always been too loose
IMHO and this proved to be the case). As part of this process it came to
light that the end cap in the top spreader appears to have been installed
incorrectly and I am wondering if other MKII owners with the Selden rig have
their top spreaders configured as mine are?

The end cap has two holes in it to take shrouds - one clamping and one with
no grip at all.  Tegwen's cap shrouds have been installed through the no
grip hole on the top spreader.  The Selden "HINTS AND ADVICE on rigging and
tuning of your Seldén mast" 2010-06-29 edition talks about clamping the top
spreader on a multi spreader rig.

I did take pictures of as much as possible when Tegwen was being readied by
the dealer and the detail can be seen at
http://sgcox.site.net.au/tegwen_cap_shroud_spreader_cap.htm.  While having
the wit to take pictures at the time I didn't have the wisdom then to
interpret fully what now seems to be very clear.

I believe Tegwen was incorrectly rigged on delivery but just want to know
how others have been rigged before I take this any further.  I don't need to
lose the rig on the west coast of Tasmania!

Stephen Cox
Tegwen #1141
Canberra AUSTRALIA