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T O P I C R E V I E W
davidtree
Posted - 03/19/2021 : 17:13:50 I broke the weld on the spreader bracket .The attachment to the mast. took it to be welded, the did not keep the corect angle so it sweeps back to stern. Does any one know the corect angle it should be when i have it redone. David 757-672-3531
3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Stinkpotter
Posted - 03/20/2021 : 13:25:26 I think the aluminum bracket was a single casting rather than a tube welded to a plate, so his are probably steel. (If his is aluminum that broke and was welded, then pull the fire alarm!) But I agree with Leon--you have two strikes--three and you're OUT. CD's kit includes both brackets, shroud tangs, bolts, compression sleeves, clevis pins, and other stuff... You could ask them if you could buy a single bracket without whatever else you don't need, but if your other bracket has also been re-welded, I'd start over with both and the attachment hardware. Sailing should induce peace of mind.
You didn't indicate whether yours is one of the original aluminum brackets or a SS unit. If yours are aluminum, take this "opportunity" to replace them. To add to Leon's advice, Catalina Direct says:
"The original cast aluminum spreader brackets will, on occasion, fail catastrophically. This can lead to the loss of the entire rig. There is typically no warning that failure is eminent. They don't bend or crack then break. They just break."
BTW, it's important to retain the compression tubes inside the mast.
Leon Sisson
Posted - 03/19/2021 : 18:37:08 David,
On a Catalina 25, the spreaders should be in the same plane, i.e. straight out to the side, not swept back. They should angle up slightly, bisecting the angle formed by the upper shroud at the spreader tip.
I suggest you look into getting a new spreader base from Catalina, rather than having a damaged one welded a second time.
An upper shroud failure, including a spreader base, can result in the mast breaking or folding in half. Those parts are under a lot of load when sailing upwind.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.