Spreader stop error

[jimg]

I recently bought new wire rigging for my plastic boat, and forgot about the "stop ball" needed on the underside of the spreader. Would it be completely silly to use a stainless wire-rope clamp? The spreader tip is in a boot, so I don't think it would be visible, so it's a technical question, not a cosmetic question. The alternative seems to be somehow destructively removing a swage or discarding the whole thing and starting over.

[pcmm]

Can you attach a pic of this "spreader stop ball" I've never seen such a thing on capshrouds where they pass over the spreaders

[Ian McColgin]

The stop is just to keep the spreader from sliding down if the design is dead horizontal rather than the traditional cocked up such that the spreader bisects the angle it causes in the stay. A clamp will work. Some tips have a screw-tightener. Siezing has also been used. Least attractively, a light stay can be run from one spreader's width above the mast/spreader join to the spreader tip. This cat has been skinned many many ways.

G'luck

[Ian McColgin]

I should add, some clamps are better than others. You might avoid the U-bolt type saddle clamp really designed for making an eye as the U-bolt side will tend to bend some of the strands if you tighten it really firmly.

G'luck