Making a Spreader

Article by TMY Editorial Staff. Photos by John Stoudt.

This article was published in The Model Yacht, Vol 23 No 1, Winter 2022

A spreader is a spar on a sailboat used to deflect the shrouds to allow them to better support the mast. Making a spreader for a model yacht is a fairly straightforward process.

Materials: Tools:
  • 1 package – K&S 87133 Round Stainless- Steel Rod 3/32 in diameter
  • 1 package – K&S 8127 Round Brass Tubing 1⁄8 in diameter
  • Cyanoacrylate adhesive (CA) (thin)
  • 2 brass mast tangs
  • 1 2-56 brass round head bolt and nut
  • Metal cutting saw
  • End nippers
  • 1/16-in and #41 drill bits
  • Smooth jaw pliers
  • Drill press or electric hand drill
  • Center punch
  • Hammer

Procedure:

Spreader partially inserted through the mast and tangs.

  1. Use mast tangs to fasten the spreader and lower shrouds to the mast. The spreader will pass through the upper holes of the tangs, and the lower shrouds will attach to the lower (sometimes elongated) holes.
  2. Fasten the tangs to either side of the mast with a 2-56 brass round head bolt and nut through the center hole.
  3. Align the tang vertically on the mast and tighten the bolt.
  4. Drill a #41 hole through the two upper tang holes and the mast (#41 is slightly larger than 3/32 in). The spreader insert will pass through this hole.
  5. Measure the cross-sectional thickness of the mast and the two tangs.
  6. Measure the distance between the shroud racks on the deck.

  7. End of brass tube, flattened.

    Cut a piece of the stainless-steel rod 2 in shorter than the distance between the shroud racks. (If the distance between the shroud racks is 9 in, cut the stainless rod to 7 in.)

  8. Cut two pieces of the brass tubing the length of the
    distance between the shroud racks minus the thickness
    of the mast and tangs, divide by two (to find the length
    of each side).Example: If the distance between the shroud racks is 9
    in and the thickness of the mast and tangs is 5⁄8 in, the
    spreader tubes should be cut to 4 3/16 in.

    • 9 in – 5⁄8 in = 83⁄8 in (total width minus width of mast and tangs).
    • 8 3⁄8 in ÷ 2 = 4 3/16 in (adjusted width divided in half).
  9. Clean up the ends of the stainless rod and the brass tubing.

    The end of the spreader tube with shroud wire inserted.

  10. Using a pair of pliers with a smooth face, crimp 3/16 in of one end of each piece of tubing.
  11. Center punch the exact center of the flattened end of each tube.
  12. Drill a 1/16-in hole in the flattened end and deburr the holes. Note: Deburring can be done by rotating a large drill bit on both sides of the small hole to remove rough edges.
  13. Round off the crimped, square corners.
  14. Take the stainless-steel rod and mark the center (two marks) where the mast assembly would be. In the example these would be 5⁄8 in apart.
  15. Apply CA to one side of the stainless rod and insert the brass tube over it to the mark nearest one end. Immediately wipe off the access adhesive.

    Stainless rod inserted into the brass tube.

  16. Do not CA the other tube onto the insert. When the boat is rigged the spreader will stay in place. This will allow you to remove the spreader for transportation.