J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment space between spreader bracket and mast

I just had a rigger put a new spreader bracket from Rig-Rite on my boat. There's now a space (gap) between the mast and the bracket about 1/16-1/18 of an inch evenly all around with the rivets between clearly showing. The original bracket was flush.
The rigger said the new bracket didn't fit right but it's OK the to sail with the space. I'm worried the space will allow play, which will eventually cause rig failure. It'll also make it harder for me to check for stretch in the forward rivets being that there's already separation between mast and bracket.
1.Is it safe to sail with the space or should I have the bracket removed and redone?
2.The space is even all around the bracket, can this be caused because the rivets used were to long?
Any information that will help resolve this problem will be greatly appreciated.
Anthony
pomar@msn.com

Anthony,
In my humble opinion, I think you should have it redone. For various reasons, rivets derive strength by holding two parts (bracket and mast) in direct contact around the rivet. As with any fastener, PROPERLY DONE, friction between the parts takes some shear load off the fastener, the parts cannot flex and cause tension variation, fastener cannot bend, and neither part can easily yield and rupture at the hole. This is not true if the parts are separated. Also when properly done, compression load on the bracket is distributed on the surface of the bracket and mast underneath. Whatever is holding the bracket off the mast (its edges, or the rivets themselves) is too concentrated to be a good thing. It sounds like just a poor riveting job, easily redone.
Good luck.

Thanks Shunter_I feel the same way. I just measured the space the bracket is standing away from the mast and it is 1/16 to 1/18 of an inch all around. I tried to slip a piece of cardboard (and other things) underneath to see if the space runs all the way through. It doesn't, it will only go under about 1 inch all around. There's either a high spot in the mast, the bracket doesn't have the right shape (or has a high spot in its middle underneath) or both. I remember seeing what looked like some paint bubbling up on the mast there, maybe that's holding it off? I didn't see the bracket before it went on.
I will look into this further and make the proper repair.
Thanks again for your help,
Anthony

I just had my spreader brackets repaired and re-installed. The welding on the cracks bent the brackets out of shape and I had to reshape them by placeung them in a vice and using the hammer on them.I also had to shorten the thru bolt in the center because it was just a fraction too long and kept the brackets from fitting tightly against the the mast.The brackets definatly should fit nicely against the mast.I think the rivets used were 7/16 , if they are too long they may not draw tight.For sure, re-fit the brackets and use proper rivets.