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.
As I recall my spreader boots were about 5” across where the upper shroud cable passes through, so they’re not small like on a 16-18 foot trailer sailer. How do you plan to install them? Take down the mast with a gin pole or A-frame, or climb the 20 foot ladder standing on the deck? I got lucky in my harbor. We have the city dock that has a bulkhead that’s about 10 feet off the high tide mark. At low tide I can reach my steaming light and spreaders standing up there.
Bruce Ross Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032 Port Captain — Milford, CT
Tim, The boots can be trimmed along where they are split with scissors or a razor knife if needed to make a perfect fit around the spreader tubes. You don't want them tight on the wires. The wires are supposed to slide up and down slightly. Same for the seising wire. When I replaced mine I put a toothpick against the wire then put the seising wire around both and when done I removed the toothpick.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
As I recall my spreader boots were about 5” across where the upper shroud cable passes through, so they’re not small like on a 16-18 foot trailer sailer. How do you plan to install them? Take down the mast with a gin pole or A-frame, or climb the 20 foot ladder...
My boat is on its trailer in the boat yard as I just finished deoxidizing/polishing/waxing. I'm cursed with a navy blue hull that was showing the chalk pretty badly but I've got it looking pretty sharp at the moment.
Anyway, I was planning on dropping the mast anyway (first time for me) as I want to switch out to LED lights and add a windex. Plus I need to drop it to get to the launch ramp. So it makes sense to replace the boots I think.
I built a gin pole and am planning on dropping next weekend.
As I was fitting it up, another 25 owner showed up to size up his mast dropping. We slapped my gin pole on his boat along with some side braces he had fashioned and did an impromptu dropping. Halfway down his side braces slipped out of the mast track and I had the whole mast as he was manning the winch from the ground. Fun. I'm not a tall person. It worked out though and I will be more deliberate in my planning. I also have a taller mast.
Now he's going to help me. Perfect.
Tim Keating 1985 C-25 TR/FK #4940 Midsummer Lake Don Pedro, CA
Not a scientific opinion but my vinyl boot are 9 yrs strong. Again just my opinion that leather will get dry and brittle with the constant wetting and drying and UV damage. Ever see an old pair of leather gloves that were left outside? The vinyl is the same as they use for fenders, UV protection an will probably out last the rigging tape. Again just my opinion.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
My plastic boots are about 18 years old, and the boat was in Santa Fe, New Mexico sitting as a trailer queen most of that time under the sunny NM sky. They still work but are getting crumbly. I guess 18 years is long enough.
quote:Originally posted by islander
Not a scientific opinion but my vinyl boot are 9 yrs strong. Again just my opinion that leather will get dry and brittle with the constant wetting and drying and UV damage. Ever see an old pair of leather gloves that were left outside? The vinyl is the same as they use for fenders, UV protection an will probably out last the rigging tape. Again just my opinion.
Erik Cornelison 6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor. 1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234
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.