spreader movement

[berwick]

I have a 1979 Tartan 37 and the spreaders have a small amount of play fore and aft. The play is between the metal from the mast and the aluminum spreaders. The spreaders are held on with a pin vertically through both parts. Should it be bar tight with no movement? If so what is a fix - ream out the metal and put in a bigger pin or use a nut and bolt?
Thanks, Richard

[Ian McColgin]

Ahoy Berwick,

Coming from more traditional boats, I look askance upon overly rigid spreader to mast connections and have had a number of boats where the spreader is actually free to pivot a good ways.

If the mast pumps at all or if you shift the rake a bit, the line of the stay from mast to chainplate is changed a bit. A rigid connection won't so willingly let the stay find its place and the stress at the mast end of the spreader may cause a fatigue failure.

So, wobble on and don't worry.

G'luck

Ian