[Public-list] replacing spreaders

[Jock McClees]

Light weight. It does rot a bit more easily than the oak. Some of mine were
spruce and some were oak. I received an new spreader with the boat that
hadn't been put on yet. I was going to use it but I spoke to a Paul Miller
who has a lot of experience with wood spreaders and is an engineer
recommended I not use it, but get another one made. The reason was that the
grain curved and ran at a diagonal and not along the length of the spreader.
My guess is the top 2 grades of spruce are selected for grain. If you use
oak, pay attention to the grain.

Also, mine were rotted in the mast brackets and at the outside end where
they were taped up.  Paul said as long as you put a couple of coats on a
year it should last a long time. Apparently it has for him. Ultimately I
want to go to aluminum and not have to worry about it.
Jock


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Kirk" <isobar at bcpl.net>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 3:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Public-list] replacing spreaders


> Jock... Why do you recommend Spruce? I know it's light (they used to make
> airplanes out of it)  but not nearly  as strong or rot resistant as oak.
>
> I haven't had my mast down in a couple of years but the oak spreaders
> looked to be in good shape then. Original? I just put white enamel on top
> and varnish on the bottom. I did feel a little guilty not replacing them
> after all these years but they looked too good. Since then, Phil Beigel
> told me that the wooden spreaders tend to start rotting inside the mast
> brackets where you can't see it, so maybe I do need to build new ones,
> after all. They are easy enough to make. Maybe next year :-)
>
> Does Spruce (Sitka?) have some other advantage?... Bob
>
> Bob Kirk
> Isobar #181
>
>
> At 02:54 PM 4/26/06 -0400, Jock McClees wrote:
> >You can get the wood from
> >Exotic Lumber 1610 Whitehall Rd. 410-267-0887 or
> >Aircraft Spruce 877-477-7823 - ordered from them
> >Ask for spar grade or aircraft grade spruce
> >If you use another wood, make sure the grain is running in line with the
> >spreader and not at an angle.
>
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