Important message re: spreaders!!!!!

Jeff W · Post by **Jeff W** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:13 am

Here's one for you northern boats (and the southern ones in freezing temps)

Our spreaders have small cracks about 1/4" from the leading edge near the outer tips of the spreaders. The cracks are on both spreaders and are about 2-3 inches long. I dropped them off at JSI here in St. Petersburg to be repaired. The guys there were floored, seems they just repaired a pair from an S2 7.9 last week with the exact same problem. Their first question was whether ours was a northern boat (it was).

Their best (and seems to me very reasonable) guess as to the cause....freezing water. They suport this theory by pointing out that the spreaders are slightly bulged out in the same area. Here's the picture, mast down and on the deck for the winter, normally stored with swept spreaders angled down, water collects in the ends of the spreaders because they are open at the mast end and sealed at the stay end...the water freezes and viola...cracked spreader....they suggested a small (1/8") hole be drilled in the end of the spreader if it is going to be left stored in that position....thanks to JSI for making us aware of the problem...

Jeff W
S2 7.9; HID279
Renegade

Tom Line · Post by **Tom Line** » Mon May 03, 2004 3:36 pm

Yep. It's a known problem with the 7.9. You'll have more of a problem with different colored masts. It's the equivalent of an ice dam on a house.

I assume they are going to grind the crack, weld it, then grind it smooth. Out of curiosity, do you remember the same of the fellow you dealt with? Was it Cadar or something like that?

Jeff W · Post by **Jeff W** » Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 pm

You know, I've dealt with the guy about three times and he introduced me to the shop foreman....forgot both their names...but I'm picking up the spreaders this week so I'll check.

I did deal with Mike up front in the showroom, he's the one that mentioned JSI was working with the class to make new masts, etc.