Two years ago one of the four wood spreaders on my '69 E32 split due to rot.
I looked into replacing them with metal but you're talking quite a bit of money for custom aircraft aluminum--the estimates I got were $1200-$1500 as I recall. And after that, who knows how they'll fit onto the mast.
This got me thinking. The spreaders are simply wedges, with some of the corners rounded off with the router. For 35 years that Sitka spruce was pretty darn good and incredibly light -- and the other 3 spreaders seemed to be in pretty good shape. How hard could it be to make new ones, and could aluminum ones possibly be $1200 lighter or longer-lasting? I didn't think so.
M.L. Condon, the local wood supply store in White Plains, NY had a suitable slab of Sitka spruce sitting around. I think it was $50. Once milled down -- a step I needed my brother-in-law's toolset for -- refabricating all four spreaders was straightforward using a band saw, a router, and a drill. I really don't know anything about woodworking. If I had, I might not have needed the band saw.
I coated the new spars with West epoxy, including the insides of the (slightly oversized) fastener holes, refinished the associated aluminum plates and mast hardware using the necessary zinc primers, and painted all with Brightside.
If I had to do this again, assuming it was winter and not infringing on sailing time, if a perfect fit in aluminum were available for $500 I'd choose that option. Above that and I'd make 'em myself again. Sitka spruce is really cool.