replacing running rigging on a sailboat replacing running rigging on a sailboat

This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Also, there are a lot of costs you can save on substantially if you do simple maintenance yourself or have a simple boat. Usually the owner's manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. The Down Haul consists of a line attached to the mast end of the boom. Now would also be a good time to change those old cotter pins and circlip rings as well. This process . If you own a bluewater cruiser, your maintenance cost will go up a lot. Every time I think Ive seen it all, my people outdo themselves and serve up the unexpected. I ended up just replacing all of the standing rigging through rigginonly.com in Fairhaven Ma. There are so many variables in the system types of end fittings, types of masts, types of attachment points that each boat will have its own specific requirements that can affect cost. Deck hardware consists of the bullseyes, tiller, eye straps, cleats, and so on. Ensure you keep hold of the standing end so it doesn't disappear to the top of the mast. These boats have less moving parts and less critical parts. For an idea of the costs involved to replace your standing rigging, here are some examples of sets of rigging we have made for customers in the past 12 months (prices as of Sept 2022). Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. The average price of a used cruising sailboat is between $10,000 and $100,000. For instance, Madden says, he recently had a customer whose 46-foot cutter had a rigging failure at six years. Picking up early signs of corrosion or replacing select components after a thorough inspection is a worthwhile exercise because it may extend the lifespan of your standing rigging. But here are some things we could do out to save some big bucks: Winterizing your boat yourself can cost you as little as $50 for antifreeze and an oil change afterward. RIGGING TIP: Why not fit a pair of mast steps a few feet from the masthead to give you a solid base on which to stand while youre working up there, rather than hanging uncomfortably in the bosuns chair? Start at the bottom, working your way up from the lowers, to the cap shrouds and finally the stays. All this small hardware needs to be replaced every 20-30 years and will amount to about $1,500. Probably the trickiest will be the forestay and backstay, as these carry the greatest loads, although all the standing rigging can be loosened to some degree when at rest. Chafe occurs when line rubs against a sharp or rough surface. The average maintenance cost will be roughly $255 dollars per month for boats under 30' or just under $3,000 per year. I'll pull the standing rigging and as much hardware as reasonably possible (tangs, bolts, pins, turnbuckles, etc) and drop it off to a local rigger. We are a proud supplier of Yale Cordage. The following resources contain do-it-yourself information on upgrading and maintenance. Youre out there offshore and theres a squall coming and you start worrying about the craziest of things, and you dont want to have any unknowns. Thats especially true of the system that keeps the mast and sails up. Replacement of the rigging components is more frequent and based on inspection. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. On a sailboat, a distinction is made between running rigging and standing rigging. The bottom of the top half just slides into the top of the bottom half. With chainplates its often not the actual hardware that fails, but the structure that supports them. How exactly do you determine how much line you need for a given size sailboat? Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. The annual maintenance cost is $2,000 - $3,000 for most boats, but the actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000. You can see the difference between the old line on the right and the new line on the left. The most important determinant would be the boat's use; a boat used for racing or offshore cruising would require the wires to be inspected and replace more often. In the past, long-distance cruisers typically chose wire rigging with mechanical fittings for all of these reasons. I used the Sta-Set solid color line to easily identify the lines. And never forget the golden rule: if in doubt, sling it out. [advertisement]. The boat owner or previous rigger had clearly replaced the old line without looking for the source of the chafe. The former need careful scrutiny and often sustain damage from misalignment. Average installation and setup takes around 30 hours (at $105 per hour), which would add another $3,105 to the bill, bumping the cost to re-rig up to $8,010 for an average re-rig. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. Sailboat rigging very rarely fails from being overloaded. Listing Results for Shore Support & Services, Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde I'll explain each line item in detail later on. sailboats with inboard engine: $5,000 - $10,000, sailboats with outboard engine: $1,000 - $1,500, most powerboats (inboard engine): $15,000 - $35,000, small outboard engines (2-5 hp): $1,000 - $1,500, large outboard engines (100+ hp): $10,000+. The theory is that youve crushed it so tightly that all the wires inside have just merged into one solid piece of stainless, Madden says. Would you replace this? The latter may indicate two things: one, that its simply surface rust, which you should be able to polish off, or two, that as the wire was being manufactured, a strand might have picked up some contamination during the process and is compromised, which is cause for concern. Its imported and sold through distributors like Alps Wire Rope. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more! Let's hoist the sails and get started! That said, it is perfectly possible, though somewhat tedious, to change shrouds and stays in pairs with the mast up by using halyards and intermediate tackles to support it. Strong, durable lines are essential for controlling the sails on your boat without risking your own safety, or that of the sails. On this site for example someone posted the specs for a Catalina 27 and they were bang on and agreed fully with the specs I got from the Catalina owners association. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. A forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. And if your boat is in the the Seattle area, wed love to come take a look at your running rigging. Rig inspections, rig replacement and rig upgrades is how we can help. Do you hire a pro or go it alone? That history will affect what kind of life you get out of your standing rigging. Some insurance companies, he says, will require a re-rig if youre purchasing a used boat that has standing rigging older than 15 years. This way you can cut the wire roughly to length and have a rigger swage the tops, fit them in place yourself and terminate the lower ends to suit. Replacing the running rigging on your sailboat seems like it should be fairly simple, and a decade or two ago, it was. A good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. When we talk about sailboat rigging, we mean all the wires, ropes and lines that support the rig and control the sails. Replacing your old worn out or damaged standing rigging is a crucial requirement to insure your safety and the safety of others. Old turning blocks, padeyes, sheaves and cam cleats as well as genoa tracks and rope clutches are just not capable of handling the loads you can exert using high tech line. The most common location of chainplate failure is where one disappears into the deck and cant be inspected. Now is a good time to install all new cotter pins or rings to leave no doubt as to the integrity of your connections. Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. The sheave in the halyard exit box is chipped and has sharp edges. After that, you'll need to change them out. In this article, I'll show you what to expect. Step 1 - Hire a professional rigger with a good reputation to do a thorough survey of your standing AND running rigging. Technical support for boat owners and maintenance yards servicing Sabre sail and motor yachts | Sabre Yachts Technical Support Contacts in Sabre's After Sales Service Department may be reached by calling 207-655-3831 or by filling in the contact form. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. Theres no reason good quality rigging shouldnt last up to 20 years or so if it is well maintained and any problems that arise are sorted right away. On longer boats, you can opt for a furling-line material of more esoteric double-braids with less stretch. Many boat owners are reluctant to replace their running rigging, and for good reason, it can be expensive! The sails, rigging, and engine will be less critical if you won't take her out very often. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. All rights reserved. The cost of replacing the standing rigging will vary greatly depending on the size of your boat and the location you get the job done. A dormant maneuver has both ends fixed at each end. In most cases, you'll only have to replace your running rigging every 5-10 years, but it will cost you $5,000 on average. No signs of corrosion or stray strands anywhere. There are also a few spots where the chafe is more serious. If you live on a boat in a location where it falls below freezing temperature (good luck!). That's just what it is. Do this by placing a wrap of tape 3 up from the upper chainplate pin hole on each upper shroud. I actually just replaced the outer turnbuckles. Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. Its best to slacken them off, giving them a few turns each way and removing any clevis pins for close inspection before re-tensioning the shroud or stay and then locking it off with new split rings or cotter pins. I use a 3D model and some diagrams. That's why I've calculated the average maintenance costs for four different types of boat below: Your specific maintenance cost will vary depending on what type of boat you have and how you'll use it. Your first thought may be to replace this old stuff with some of the bright new high tech line you can find in your local chandlery. The simple answer is to measure it. and about a 200' " anchor .line. Generally, they consist of either three or four parts (Sta-Lok has three; Hi-MOD has four), including a sleeve; a cone; in Hi-MODs case, a crown wheel; and the terminal (an eye, fork, stud, etc.). I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. You can't eliminate all risk on a sailboat and how to make that call will be different bassed on an individual's risk tollerance. For all of these reasons, most riggers agree that when your sailboats standing rigging approaches 15 years old, its a good time to consider replacing it. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. With the tension off its a lot easier to waggle the terminal around and check closely for cracks, wear, distortion or corrosion. Spreader tips that are covered can often encourage and hide corrosion as they can trap water and reduce air flow over stainless steel fittings, causing them to corrode. Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. Add winches and UV rays and the wear and tear can be significant so it's important to use a quality line. To avoid excessive wear, make sure your halyard sheaves are the proper type for whatever line you select. I just replaced all the rope running rigging on a Catalina 27 for about $300. As for sources of wire and fittings, there are many, including major chandleries and vendors, like West Marine and Defender, as well as some private riggers, like Annapolis Rigging and the Rigging Company, which will work with you to define what you need and help you source parts and materials. We replaced the line AND the sheave box to ensure that the new halyard wont chafe. If you replace the rigging preventively, you should never experience the failure I did. The running rigging consists of the halyards, sheets . A boat spending most of the last 10 years on a trailer with the mast in a cradle has only corrosion to consider. While its often difficult to know whether, say, a swaged terminal is in good condition, there are a few common signs of possible failure to look for. Perhaps a rogue cotter pin sticking out of a turnbuckle. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. Below, I'll go over four different situations and explain what type of maintenance you'll most likely will and won't do, and what the price tag is for each situation. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. Over time, UV exposure weakens the fibers and eventually, even the slightest friction will cause chafe that will damage and break the fibers of the cover. Its good enough to get you to safety and someplace you can make a more permanent repair. Riggers say very few sailors re-rig from wire to rod or the reverse, but if switching is on your mind, have a professional make a full assessment first. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Masthead sloop, single spreader, 2 cap shrouds, 4 lowers, r/r forestay, single backstay. Replacing Running Rigging on an Older Sailboat If you're thinking of buying a used sailboat it's probable that your final selection will be a boat that is a few years old - and the halyards, mainsheet, backstay, jibsheets and other running rigging will probably look a little old, dirty and frayed. There is no hard and fast rule for "when" to replace your running rigging. The biggest thing we like to have is the history of the boat: what kind of boat it is, how its been sailed and where has it been sailed, says Jay Herman, owner of Annapolis Rigging. Polyester double braid works great for frequently adjusted lines, like main and jib sheets, or moderately loaded control lines. Bluey Williams's yard was a cowshed in Lawnton near the North Pine River, on the northern side of Brisbane and inland from Redcliffe. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. The fastest route to crevice corrosion is to cover the metal with plastic or leather turnbuckle covers or to coat the fittings in tape. Whether you are setting up the hardware for a trapeze or trying to create the perfect mast rake before a big race with your tension guage, we at MAURIPRO Sailing will meet your Rigging needs. Improve Sailing 14.8K subscribers In part 3 of our series on sailboat parts, we dive into two types of rigging: standing rigging and running rigging. 1. Usually the owners manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. How Much Does it Cost to Dock a Boat for a Year? The easiest way to prevent line from chafing all the way through is to simply look at your line. If the baseplates, for example, are leaking, water will penetrate the deck, making the surrounding deck core mushy and weak (if a core exists) and possibly compromising supporting bulkheads and structures belowdecks. (This is true anywhere there are stainless fittings by the way, so be wary of putting too much tape or tight-fitting covers on them.). On this page you will find both rigging hardware and rigging tools. JavaScript is disabled. First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). rigbos.com our online store is a progression allowing us to more effisantly supply customer Members of ABYC . Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500. Double Braid: A braided core inside a braided cover. One advantage is that you might not need to winterize if you're a fulltime cruiser since you'll probably spend your winters in Bermuda. You could be setting yourself up for some serious problems, as well a spending a lot of unnecessary money into the bargain. Sampson Ropes make a double braid dacron called XLS, New England Ropes make a similar product called Sta-Set and Yale Ropes product is called Vizzion. This halyard had been wrapped around a shroud and tightened to prevent it from slapping against the mast while at the dock. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. The theory is that it can take 10 to 15 years of cycling, but this continual motion when its unloaded is what fatigues the wire, Madden says. Best Price Opti Running Rigging Sheets Halyard Line Sailboat Kit 100% Original + FREE Delivery discount activity gsmsharmaji.com, US $174 sail ties Lower Spirit Halyard 1 ea and shock cords One of the best ways to improve an aging Opti is to overhaul and replace all the running rigging Upper Spirit Halyard 1 ea, Free shipping on all orders . Of course, if you have an outboard engine the installation price will be nothing more than a few drops of sweat, swearing, and back pain for a day or two. If youre thinking of buying a used sailboat its probable that your final selection will be a boat that is a few years old and the halyards, mainsheet, backstay, jibsheets and other running rigging will probably look a little old, dirty and frayed. Learn More; Reliable Standing Rigging. The next area deserving close scrutiny is the spreaders. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Sailors' hands are busy with the running rigging most on a sailboat. To differentiate the frame from the current, remember that the current is mobile (it runs). SKIRMISH was built for Clarence Noble in Brisbane. It will be important to maintain a couple of parts, though: With a first boat, you most likely won't invest in new sails or the standing rigging if you don't have to. Most sailors choose to leave this to a professional rigger, but theres no reason why you shouldnt attempt it yourself if you know the best way to go about it. And although rod rigging may be able to last longer than wire, it too needs to be serviced every five to six years to get the most life out of it. Shes the director of media relations at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and she and her family continue to pine and plan for the day they can return to the cruising life. Most people need 2 risers + 2 exhaust manifolds. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat. Free shipping on $90+! Its when the leeward side starts flopping around that youre asking for trouble., Stainless steel has a finite number of cycles essentially, movements, whether fore and aft or side to side. Dyneema is especially susceptible to UV degradation. Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. You mean all together don't you? The customer had had the boat re-rigged, and during a trip to the BVI, the new wire stretched. Read more on boat engine replacement costs here. . Take a look at your mast stepparticularly if your mast is keel-stepped, as bilge water can cause serious corrosion at the foot of the mast. Colligo Dux: A relative newcomer to sailboat rigging, Colligo Dux is pre-stretched and heat-treated Dyneema. Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two). Let me explain. 1. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. Read more about the cost of replacing risers and manifolds here. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. Before long this will create slack in the rig, generating bends and stresses elsewhere. Do a few turns on one side before going to the other and applying an equal number. The typical sheets for a low-tech, limited budget sailer is single braid Dacron. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. [1] 2. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. Thus the standing rigging is made up of all the cables and . Deep cycle batteries (which are best for household functionality) need replacing every 4-6 years and will cost roughly $600. You want a reliable boat, which means you'll fix anything that needs fixing immediately. From canvas and cushions to rigging and hardware by top suppliers like Lewmar, Schaefer, Gray, Ronstan, and more. Before re-tuning the rig the mast base, turnbuckles and stay fixtures should be inspect. Seems like a lot for a 40' boat. Keep the tension equal on each side by counting the turns on each turnbuckle.