spreaders, shrouds, and trigonometry

[Brion Toss]

Hi,
This is one of my pet peeves. It's not as though the geometry behind this is a recent discovery, it's not as though droopy spreaders never lead to spreader failure, and it's not as though droopy spreaders look good. There's even, I understand, some evidence that raising the spreaders to reflect the vector will help reduce drag, and even add a bit of lift. But if the spreaders are not well-secured they will tend to drift down, until the hardware at the inboard end constrains them. This of course puts a strain on the hardware and the spreader.
Also, people just don't take the effort to do this job. To get a good angle, you just about have to go aloft after the mast is stepped, bop them into place, and then seize them.
As for how they're seized, most people use seizing wire, which is inclined to slip, even if put on tight. We either use Double Constrictors, with twine, or seizing wire put on with a Clamptite tool. Some spreaders come with built-in clamps, and these are fine if they fit the wire well. Ideally, you want a spreader tip that can take someone standing on it without slipping.
I take it that you have a single-spreader rig. Those with double spreaders will find that the lower set will be angled up more than the upper set. In any event, please carry on. Maybe you'll start a trend.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss