J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Anchoring Shrouds in Spreader Tips?

I'm rigging the mast for the first time.

The spreader tips have fairly shallow sockets for the upper shrouds to sit in where they pass over the spreader. How are the shrouds supposed to stay anchored in those sockets when the mast is going up and the shrouds are hanging loose? What about if a leward shroud goes slack when sailing? It would be all over on the next tack. Am I missing a crucial piece of equipment?

Thanks for the help.

Mine are secured with rigging wire (available at West Marine) that laces through two small holes on the spreader tips. They are then coverd with a spreader boot that I have taped in place.

That's exactly how our rigger secures ours. We generally try and remember to peek into the spreader boots mid-season when we re-tape 'em. Does give one the heeby jeebies when one sees just how slack the lee side gets, and knowing that it's basically just the wire retaining them in the tip. Not that you can ever pin continuous wire into a spreader tip too firmly, and this has the advantage of simplicity. I've seen any number of more complicated arrangements come apart, including one ingenious bit of french rigging that spread bits all over the deck in the BVI. I ended up going up and fixing that with a chunk of seizing wire.

- David

Thanks guys. I deduced that wire must be the method but couldn't believe it. But, it appears to work (right?).

I have a later model, hull # 529. The spreaders have molded, plastic end caps that screw into the spreader (2 screws). The caps have a cut out the size of the shroud that aligns with the groove in the spreader. I think Rig-Rite shows the part on their web page but, having recently dealt with Rig-Rite, I would never recommend buying anything from them!

My 1979 vintage J-30 also has plastic spreader tips with a hole that the stays run through. The only thing I have to do when I raise the mast is to adjust the spreaders up or down to make sure they are positioned corectly before I tighten my stays.

I am redoing my standing rigging after 23 years ... and on #505 I have the black pastic end tips ... which look pretty finished ... BUT it seems like I always have had rubber boots over them. I have no idea why a rigger would put rubber boots over a finished end.

Does anyone think they are necessary?

Vic Vee Jay 505

I wanted to follow up on an old post. West seems lost to what I am requesting. I need to get the rigging wire, what size and details could you provide.

Need to make this upgrade before launching this week.

I replaced the plastic breakable tips will the current metal sub from RigRite SP3 Spreader Tip: K-10263

we inserted into spreader and used a small bit of seizing wire to anchor the shroud.

Then booted.
v

There is suppose to be a small stainless plate which locks the shrouds in place which is held in by two stainless screws which are drilled and tapped into the spreader ends