Spreader change out

[seawolf]

During my rerig in the slip, I plan on changing the old wooden spreaders on my 1962 Columbia 29. through years of wire halyards rubbing against them they are getting pretty narrow torward the ends. I have bought a used set of wooden spreaders that will need to be modified in size a bit. I plan to pull the spreader one at a time while the mast is up and use it as a template to size the replacement. This is a deck stepped rig with single mid-lowers. Would it be enough to rig a line from up at mast head down to a pulley at the chainplates and back to a winch be enough support to offer safety enough to loosen the upper enough to pull the old spreader off and install the new one from the bosun chair? Ofcoarse safety is the main consern. The cost of pulling the stick and the daily yard bill for having it stored on horses during any rerigging is prohibited at this time, even though that is the preferred option.
Thanks for any sound advise in this matter.
Seawolf

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
It is possible to do almost anything with the mast in place that can be done with the mast on deck. It just takes longer, and involves more risk. How much longer and how much more risk is a matter of quality of procedure, and every detail matters.
In your case, let's start with that aft-led line acting as a temporary support. The block will see about 140% of the load on the line; do you have a block that is strong enough to do that, and still give a safety factor of at least 10:1? And is there some good reason to lead the line aft, when doing so adds to elasticity, compromising the efficiency of the temporary stay while complicating the setup? What sort of line did you have in mind? Do you know what the load on it could be? And why would you start at the masthead, when without a spreader to help you this will give you a staying angle of perhaps 7 degrees? A proper sling, attached about 3/4 of the way up, would give a better angle. And what are you going to attach to on deck that is reassuringly strong enough? The upper's chainplate is the obvious choice, but can you use it without fouling on the shroud? And have you considered that you need to slack the other upper, as well as the backstay and jibstay before setting up on the shroud you are detaching?
These are the kinds of things that have brought similar projects to grief. People have managed to do what you hope to do, without addressing these issues (and others) but others have not fared so well. And if you think the cost of taking the mast out is high, consider the possible consequences of doing the job in place. I would urge you proceed only if you had the help of someone competent, and by that I mean someone who has (a) done this kind of thing many times, and (b) doesn't dismiss the above concerns.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[seawolf]

Brion,
That is well put and I must admit that I did not think of some of the things that you mentioned.
I didn't expect anything less from a rigger of your reputation and experience.
Counting all the things that I would like to accomplish in re-rigging the boat, in addition to the spreader project as with installing a windex and some mast steps close to the masthead, It would be prudent to pull the stick. As you say, anything can be done, but I am not as you would say, in far offistan with no other options. Thanks for your advise. You probably saved me from greif that this novice didn't think of.
Cheryl and I are hoping to make a four day weekend to PT the first week of August.
I hope to drop by and say hello.
Fair winds. Bob Kelly (Seawolf)