Replacing wood spreader with aluminium need help finding a fabricator.

[sailing_gal]

There are 2 places around the Annapolis area that can manufacture and weld aluminum that I know of.... one is Kato Marine, and the other is Atlantic Spars. You could give each of them a call and share your specs and get a quote.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by sailing_gal

There are 2 places around the Annapolis area that can manufacture and weld aluminum that I know of.... one is Kato Marine, and the other is Atlantic Spars. You could give each of them a call and share your specs and get a quote.

Kato previously did custom work before, but not now. I'm sure AS would do it if you wanted to pay their ridiculous amount they would charge to make them.


Bill O.

[fatherchronica]

I think I too would search for used existing speakers online and have a welder shorten them. Spreaders only need compression strength when they are doing their job on your mast. That is likely why yours broke when they encountered forces they were not designed for. A rigger might have some for cheap.

[Eastward ho 24]

Alas rig rite just returned my email and said if I send them in they will duplicate them in aluminium to fit my mast. So that is a plus I assume they are a company that knows what they are doing

[JOHNMARDALL]

I faced this problem on a forty year old Pearson. Using the existing wooden spreaders, which appeared to be made of Sitka Spruce and were in amazingly good condition, as a template. I made simple molds on a plywood base and laminated new spreaders from fiberglass cloth, csm and West System epoxy resin. Very simple job, very satisfactory results, all done in two days, cost- six hours of my time plus >$40 in materials.


Good luck
John Mardall
Vetus Maxwell Boat Equipment

[thunderhoof]

You might look at the Rig Rite site, They have mast parts for many standard sections.
https://www.rigrite.com/

[captlloyd]

As a professional metal fabricator I’d use bar stock, no welding involved and weight is really not a factor here. Bar stock would be easier to shape.

[Ted and Relinda]

Island Nautical in St.Pete,Fl. made ours after Hurricane Charley took one off our 37 Irwin.
www.islandnautical.com
Ted.

[Larry Chamblee]

From decommissioning my boat, I have two aluminum spreaders That are 48" long with end caps. $50 each.

Lawrence Chamblee
leer03@roadrunner.com
213 280 5902

[Eastward ho 24]

I tried to send them up to rig- rite they gave me the wrong address twice and then hung up on me when I asked for a corrected zip code. I see nothing but bad reviews on Google about them. And hear nothing but bad things about them. However they look like they have it all and. They told me to send them up and they'll duplicate out of aluminium. But I'm a little hessisatant....