Odd shrouds

[JohnV]

Hello--
I have an Alajuela 33 cutter that has rigging components that I'm not familiar with: below the 5/16" upper shrouds are smaller shrouds of 1/8" 1x19 wire. They extend
from several feet below the upper tangs to about the middle of each
spreader--more or less parallel to the uppers.
The only reference I could find is in Hiscock's fold-out drawing in
Cruising Under Sail, and he calls them 'cap shrouds' but doesn't
explain them, nor could I find them in The Rigger's Apprentice.The rigging instructions original to the boat don't mention them.
I posted the question on the Alajuelaboats Google group and got varying opinions as to their use and value. In fact, one poster said Mr. Toss had done their rigging and discarded them as unnecessary.
Others believed they were to support the weight of crew climbing the mast, or preserve the shroud/spreader angle. I wondered if they are to counteract any unplanned downward pull on a pennant halyard--of which there are two on this boat.
Does anyone know the rationale for these, and the proper way to set them up?
Thanks for any info.
John V

[Brion Toss]

Hi,
I believe that what you have are known as "lifter stays". They are an artifact of the days of bolt-on wooden spreaders which, because they were horizontal, needed some means of opposing the downward vector caused by the angle of the shrouds over them. If your spreaders can be bumped up to bisect that angle, they will be in pure compression, which translates to less buckling loads, better aerodynamics, and a more pleasing appearance. A series of Double Constrictor knots above and below, positioned right next to each othere and pulled very tight, or a Clamptite seizing, with monel wire, will be all that is needed; you should be able to jump up and down on the outboard ends and not budge the spreaders. Seize during tuning, after you are sure where the spreaders need to be. A separate seizing or mechanical keeper will hold the spreaders from drifting out laterally.
Lifter stays are an expensive, windage-y way to hold the spreaders up. You'll still need them if you have a gaff schooner, with horizontal spreaders and the 1/4-lifts mounted partway out, but not on an Alajuela.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[JohnV]

Brion--
Thanks for the reply. I will relay it to the Alajuelaboats thread.
I guess I shouldn't have assumed they had to meet a functionsl need. Your explanation of their original purpose makes sense.
And I suppose there's no pay off from the incremental increase in spreader length by making the spreaders level and using the stays to keep them that way?
John V