Can anybody let me know an easier way to bend/adjust the fixed spreaders on a needlespar mast? I was trying to move them back a bit at the weekend without success. The only other way I can think of is to take the mast out of the boat and use a lever, but that defeats the object of trying to set the mast up.

Thanks

I have a carbon tipped needlespar mast with adjustable spreaders sitting in my garage that you are welcome to take away if you can get to worthing.

The old way was simply remove them to a vice & bend them! not very satisfactory. But it's not every day you get a offer like William's a trip to Worthing, free mast! can't be bad, wot a nice bloke.

It was a nice offer, but unfortunately, the mast was for a deck stepped boat so it's out with the vice or find a friendly gorilla.

Trick we pulled on a needlespar for "seat of the pants" adjustment in the dinghy park was to roll the boat on it's side, release shrouds from chainplates and spreaders from brackets, then insert the spreader into the open end of the tube that served as the handle for the launching trolley. Then stand on the end of the spreader until suitable bend achieved.( Spreader was inserted in a vertical plane, obviously!). Then put one spreader on top of the other to check bend is the same. Result was surprisingly accurate, probably more so than most "adjustable" spreaders (read: sloppy, corroded, bent screw stops with masses of play), remember, 1 mm of difference in the stops on most adjustable spreaders multiplys to 10mm plus at the outboard end.