I received my factory parts from Charles Gabriel who I believe is able to supply these parts to those who have purchased the Certificate of Support from General Boats. Attached are two photos showing the factory shims in place. On a thread from 2019, someone stated that one of the purposes of the shims is to cause the spreaders to have a slight angle up ... above horizontal, this in addition to isolating the stainless spreader bracket from the aluminum mast.


Spreader Shim 1.jpg

Spreader Shim 2.jpg

On 8/8/2022 2:59 PM, THOMAS POLISE via Rhodes22-list wrote:
> When I got my boat they didn’t have spreader shims.  Any idea on where to get them and exactly what they are?
>
>> On Aug 8, 2022, at 2:04 PM, Chris on LBI <cknell at vt.edu> wrote:
>>
>> When I bought my Rhodes, there were no spreader shims in place on the mast. I think they had deteriorated because the spreader bolt was loose which allowed a lot of motion of the spreaders that wore through the original shims. As a temporary measure, before I was able to obtain the proper shims from Stan, I used a part that I found at a local hardware store called a "toilet shim". I have attached a photo. This worked for a season until I installed the factory parts.
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>> On 8/6/2022 12:34 PM, Chris Geankoplis wrote:
>>> There is an important piece of hardware between the two spreaders.  Inside
>>> the mast, there is a thick aluminum ferrule that prevents the long single
>>> bolt that joins the two spreaders together, from compressing the mast if it
>>> is over-tightened or the vectored forces of the rig compress the walls of
>>> the mast at this point.  Well I assume that is its function.  This is the
>>> case for my '83 mast,  Though as I write this is it possible I am thinking
>>> of my 1976 mast.  Damn!  I Think I'm getting old.  Can someone confirm or
>>> debunk this memory? Not sure if this can be retro-fitted at this juncture
>>> or how critical it really is, especially with the extra plates welded on.
>>> Be sure to use an galvanic isolation compound anywhere SS is in contact
>>> with Aluminum.  I think you made the right decision to fix the mast the way
>>> you did, now you can begin enjoying the joy of sailing a Rhodes.
>>>
>>> Chris Genakoplis
>>> Zenos
>>>
>>>> On Sat, Aug 6, 2022 at 10:07 AM Stephen Staum <snstaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Congratulations on your mast repair!  I was thinking about you guys and am
>>>> glad to hear you are making progress.
>>>> A plastic washer/spacer goes up against the mast to prevent abrasion and
>>>> bimetallic corrosion.  I think you can find something at a good hardware
>>>> store.  Call me to discuss if you wish.  Let me know when you are ready to
>>>> raise the mast and launch.
>>>>
>>>> *Thanks and Stay Well,*
>>>>
>>>> *Stephen Staum*
>>>> *s/v Pinafore*
>>>>
>>>> *Needham, MA*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Aug 6, 2022 at 9:35 AM Tony Jonaitis via Rhodes22-list <
>>>> rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Finally, the mast came back!  There were two holes/rips around the
>>>>> spreader holders, and a plate was welded over those rips.  Apparently
>>>> there
>>>>> needs to be something between the aluminum mast and the steel spreader
>>>>> holders.  Could someone explain this to me?  And can I make it myself?
>>>>> Thanks, everybody..Unfortunately, my photos of the mast repair will not
>>>>> upload, but you can see them on the facebook Rhodes site.
>>>>>
>>>>>
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