replacing running rigging on a sailboat

The two primary manufacturers of mechanical fittings presently are Sta-Lok and Petersen Stainless, which produces Hi-MOD. The mechanical fasteners are great in that you can terminate and then look inside to be sure its formed correctly, so you do have a way of inspecting your work, Madden says. It's a really helpful post (with a formula) if you want to know what to expect. For sheets, if you're happy with the length take the old ones off determine the gauge and and match them up. The condition of this halyard is likely due to UV degradation. Parts total: $600 on average Researchers have announced the discovery of the wreck of the schooner barge Ironton in Lake Huron, sitting upright with masts and rigging still intact and with the lifeboat that could have saved her crew still lashed to the ships stern. This process . All rights reserved. Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. However, what you'll actually pay really depends on the type of boat you have and what you do with it. It sounds to me that the question is when, not if you will go for new rigging. But if you want the good stuff, need more fire extinguishers, plan on spending more like $600. 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. They are all full re-rigs from 119 wire with new rigging screws (please note all examples given are for supply only): Read more on the cost of antifouling your boat. Over time, the halyard still moved in the wind and the shroud chafed through the cover, exposing the core. Replacing the roller-furling control line is an easy do-it-yourself job for the boat owner. It has a synthetic stay with an eye splice, a toolless turnbuckle (the Handy Lock, made by C. Sherman Johnson), quick-release fast pins with an attached lanyard, several high-strength Dyneema loops, and even a heavy-duty zip tie to fish loops in and out of holes in a mast. We replaced the line AND the sheave box to ensure that the new halyard wont chafe. 0 www.rigbos.com. This is a perfect example to illustrate why a thorough, yearly inspection of running rigging is important. Winterization is an often-overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. 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+. 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. It would help if we knew what your boat was! Our selection runs the gamut, from economical polyester single- and double-braids to high-tech, low-stretch line made from materials such as Dyneema, Spectra, Technora, Kevlar and Vectran. A little less than the semi-circular groove on the sheave (or pulley).Generally its not strength issue for diameter but rather thick enough to be easily handled. I am going to be getting new jib sheets with will be 7/16" for ease of handling. Run the shrouds and attach them to the deadeyes on the hull. . Shrouds and stays should be replaced in pairs, applying just enough tension to support the mast with you climbing it, but not tuned to sail. I used the Sta-Set solid color line to easily identify the lines. However, larger boats of 30 feet and up will cost considerably more. Plus, this line won't harden with age. Here's the average cost to shrink wrap a boat. On the other hand, it will be very important to maintain hull health, as even small leaks will lead to condensation and mold, which is horrible for your health and living standard. A professional needs roughly 8 hours to get the job done. Sailors' hands are busy with the running rigging most on a sailboat. Cut a square piece of wood about 3-4 on each side. Another trouble spot on keel-stepped masts is where the spar enters the deck, especially if water has leaked under the mast collar. In a tropical area, or high sunshine location, you should replace the running rigging every six to eight years. [advertisement] Take this opportunity to check out your spars as well. All rod rigging terminates in a cold head, which accommodates the end fitting or is encapsulated by the end fitting. Just because a line or even the whole boat is new, doesnt mean there isnt something wrong with the running rigging. First, its easier to fix in remote places and on your own. It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period. The former requires someone with a swage machine to fit terminals, the latter you can fit yourselfwith care. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing 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 three most commonly used types of attachments are swaged and mechanical fittings for wire, and cold heads for rod. Place the top of the sail in the mast track and pull on the halyard. Listing Results for Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde What is the average sailboat maintenance cost? Down Haul. Generally, end fittings fall into a few classes: studs, eyes, forks and hooks, each of which comes in a dizzying array of sizes and configurations. The mast stayed up, but it sounded like a gun shot and was scary as hell. Rig inspections, rig replacement and rig upgrades is how we can help. I have broken more than my share of components in newer boats while a lot less in older boats. Check the deck around the chainplates and mast for cracking and delamination. Youll need about 500 feet for an average 30 footer. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. Depending on the answers to those questions and others, a professionally done re-rig for a 40-footer could be closer to $6,000 or more. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. This video illustrates how to change your halyard rope in your sailboat. The installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Tests done by the magazine Practical Sailor and others show that if you tie any type of knot in a high-tech line, you can reduce the breaking strength of the line by up to 80%. I dont want be a scaremonger, but standing rigging has so many possible failure points that regular inspections should really be part of every pre-cruise integrity check. If you're hoisting the sail on land, make sure the bow of the boat is pointing towards the wind. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two). Marlow Ropes in the UK produce Marlowbraid. Get all your parts together. If the existing is frayed and faded - then a decision should be made to contract a rigger, preferably to x) inspect and give a written report on the condition of all the running rigging; to y) provide a written quotation to supply and fit new line; to z) provide a written quotation to replace sheeves and other running rigging components with new. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. You should be mechanically inclined, he says, and the way to find that out is if I start talking all this technical jargon and you decide whether youre suited to handle that at all.. About us We're looking for writers! The bottom of the top half just slides into the top of the bottom half. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists, definitely check out my article here. I think another factor to consider is how much of the "life time" of the rigging was spent with the boat in the water and the mast up. The task of replacing the standing rigging on a sailing yacht may seem daunting but there is a procedure to follow that can make it a relatively straight forward process for anyone who is reasonably practical. One thing all the riggers I spoke with expressed emphatically was that stainless steel needs oxygen to create a fine film of oxidation that protects the metal. In other words, if your boat already has rod rigging, with all of the end fittings to terminate the rods both on deck and in or on the mast, then sticking with rod will ultimately be less expensive than making the switch to wire. Sometimes they let you go longer if you have the rig professionally inspected, particularly if you have an electronic check carried out on the terminals and other crucial fittings. There are other wires out there that are cheaper, but theyre not guaranteed.. But you should think carefully before you go ahead and buy any high tech replacement running rigging. Usually the owner's manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. For that reason, its difficult to give an accurate estimate of the cost of making the switch, even for an average 40-footer. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. Remove the clevis pins at each end if you haven't already, replace the old cable with the new cable, and reinstall the clevis pins. If you replace the rigging preventively, you should never experience the failure I did. As I have done a fair amount of club racing, my personal preference would be to use any of the above products for everything except the halyards and then go for a lighter, low stretch, high tech product such as New England Ropes T-900 for the halyards and get the eye splices done professionally. These carry a good deal of compression load, so check their roots for damage and make sure the spreaders arent bent in any waythey should exactly bisect the angle of the shroud. Double Braid: A braided core inside a braided cover. I recently sailed on a boat that had rust around the wire/swage on all the shrouds. Now, let's return to the original proposition, which was a complete replacementon three different cost levelsof basic running rigging for a 32 sloop. Rigging is a significant part of building a model ship. It's about a days worth of work. Adhering to the minimum safety requirements shouldn't cost you more than 150 - 250 dollars every 5 years. The only thing we can really do is regularly inspect lines to look for wear. A prudent sailor should inspect his or her standing rig at least once each season and should know when the time comes to replace most or all of it. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . Too narrow for equivalent ropeshould be 10% wider than the diameter of the rope. Skilled marine technicians charge from $75 - $150 per hour. On top of that, maintaining your boat properly is critical. If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. So here are some tips and things to look for so that you can replace your running rigging before it breaks. If you use your batteries extensively, they will most likely need replacing after 3-4 years, for example, for liveaboards or full-time cruisers. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. The average price of a used cruising sailboat is between $10,000 and $100,000. The Tartan 30 is an ideal used boat choice for a small family looking to sail offshore in varying sea conditions or simply wanting to have fun racing around the buoys with line-honors confidence. Replace this after pinning the shroud as it is a safety device if the main pin happens to come loose (It happens!) We're the first and last stop for parts and accessories. Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. I have got quotes for sails for my 40' boat and they range from $8k for a jib and a main and I replaced the standing rigging on my boat. Finally, rod rigging requires a particular type of terminus called a cold head that can be fabricated only with a purpose-built machine, which only a rigging shop will have. On longer boats, you can opt for a furling-line material of more esoteric double-braids with less stretch. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. Don't forget that this site will also replace your rigging. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. I just replaced all the rope running rigging on a Catalina 27 for about $300. Boom Vang. You want a reliable boat, which means you'll fix anything that needs fixing immediately. But Malizia is far from the only team struggling to keep their boat in good read more, Get your ground tackle setup right, and youll sleep much easier while youre cruising. Lets say you ripped a tang out of the mast; you can use a Dyneema loop to create another attachment point. You can also use sacrificial covers to protect halyards from clutch damage,. Its one of the most important features on a sailboat, but many owners put standing rigging at the back of their minds when it comes time to do their pre-season safety checks. I should have changed mine sooner than I did. Preparing The Boat For Rigging. Every time I think Ive seen it all, my people outdo themselves and serve up the unexpected. Allow at least a foot for each splice or knot. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? 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. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't had a trailer until last year so the mast was up through the winter. One of the most common areas of rig failure is where the shrouds terminateboth at the mast tang or socket fitting and the wire terminal, toggle or T-ball. 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. Check by sighting up the backside of the mast to see how straight your spar is side to side. 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. If your standing rigging is . This was rod rigging and increased the price quite a bit. The rig or rigging on a sailboat is a common term for two parts, the standing, and the running rigging. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. Have a feel for any rough or sharp edges, especially cotter pin ends that might chafe lines or sails. However, they generally cost more than a swaged fitting; Herman says while Hi-MODs newer mechanical fittings are definitely more user-friendly to assemble, theyre twice the cost of a swaged fitting. Some riggers will recommend swaged fittings for the mast end of the rigging and mechanical fittings at the deck level: Corrosion is less prevalent at the top of the mast, and you can more easily and regularly inspect mechanical fittings at deck level, where theyre frequently subjected to salt water. They aren't even worn enough to require end-for ending yet. It's a good idea to replace wire running rigging with high-modulus rope, but the reality is that in most cases we can't because many masts that were designed for wire have sheaves that are: Grooved for wire. Dyneema is especially susceptible to UV degradation. Let's start by getting a good overview of the different maintenance costs. The Rigging Company gears much of its sales to DIY sailors and is beginning an e-commerce site to cater specifically to handy individuals. From knowing the parts of the sails to understanding the need for tension, I'll go over everything you need to know about rigging sails. 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. Ground tackle is a complete system, including the anchor itself, the rode (chain, rope, or some combination thereof, read more, French builder Dufour Yachts has rolled out another new design bringing their line to eight models from 32 to 61 feet. So youve determined your sailboats standing rigging needs work. Redoing the running rigging on a cruising sailboat involves measuring, measuring and measuring. Contact us Since each one is 34' and then add another 6-10 to be safe? Would you replace this? Its always advisable to unstep the mast every few years to check it over thoroughly at ground level, so this is an obvious time to consider replacing the shrouds and stays, particularly if the forestay is to be replaced, as removing the furler without damaging it can be a tricky task. Boats used for coastal cruising, week ending or day sailing may go longer. Most insurance companies reckon you should replace your standing rigging about every 10 years. With inboard engines, this is not something you can easily do yourself - it isn't just unscrewing a motor and screwing a new one in. Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. Likewise, if you are re-rigging your sailboatboat, use the opportunity to check your chainplates (easily the subject of another article entirely), since thats one of the most common points of rigging failure. Bluey Williams's yard was a cowshed in Lawnton near the North Pine River, on the northern side of Brisbane and inland from Redcliffe. Dont forget the turnbuckles and chain plates. Inspect the area around tang plates and toggle fittings for cracks, preferably using a magnifying glass. 34' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $3,000 - $5,000. Much depends on where it is manufactured; Herman and other riggers say the best wire today is coming from South Korea through a manufacturer called KOS, making wire to military specifications. Note wire and pin diameters and measure the wires as accurately as possible between pin centers with the rig fully tensioned. 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? Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. Put together both the pieces of your mast. For instance, the Rigging Company makes a spare-stay kit that can accommodate either wire or rod rigging repairs, Cockerill says. Hardwood would be best but we used epoxied plywood and it was adequate. With chainplates its often not the actual hardware that fails, but the structure that supports them. Turns out that owning a boat is pretty affordable. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Step 1 - Hire a professional rigger with a good reputation to do a thorough survey of your standing AND running rigging. Buy some light line and run it as you would your sheets and halyards and measure that. The average price of new sailboats is $250,000, ranging from $96,000 to $654,000. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates. Keep the tension equal on each side by counting the turns on each turnbuckle. This was most likely caused by something sharp and pointy that poked through the cover and caught on the core. Well, for starters, I'd recommend doing most small maintenance yourself and ignore all non-essential. So youre sailing offshore and youre looking at the windward shroud thats taut, and thats not the one to worry about. As you work your way down the mast, take a glance at the mainsail track to see if its in good condition and well secured. This was seen on a brand new boat at the 2020 Seattle Boat Show. Seems like a lot for a 40' boat. The annual maintenance cost is $2,000 - $3,000 for most boats, but the actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000. This line is double braided polyester, so the cover is responsible for carrying up to 30% of the load. As a basic rule, the replacement of the standing rig should be done every 10 years, except for multihulls or regattas, and rod or composite fiber rigging. Our sailboat ropes and lines were designed to withstand any weather condition without fraying, tearing, or catching. Its common to choose to fit lighter swaged terminals at the top of a stay or shroud and mechanical ones at the bottom, where swaged terminals are more vulnerable to corrosion. Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. At minimal cost you can rig a permanent preventer that is easy to use, is fully adjustable, and does not require going forward on deck. Maybe dying or some other high tech test would. USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly. Outboard starters run from about $100 - $500. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. 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. Copyright 2023 Cruising World. The worst-case scenario, of course, is that the chainplates pull right out of the deck, with catastrophic consequences. On our old boat we had the Port Aft lower shroud fail while sailing. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. The golden rule has always been never to work on a rig with the boat out of the water. They can also crack under the constant tension, particularly if the rig has been pumping in rough seas or if the toggles that ensure proper shroud alignment have seized and cant move freely. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. This produces an easy-to-handle rope that is strong and durable. 1. For instance, Madden says, he recently had a customer whose 46-foot cutter had a rigging failure at six years. Gas engine will last a lot less long than diesels. Inexpensive, double-braid Dacron is a fine choice for furling lines on most boats shorter than 40 feet. Let's hoist the sails and get started! Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. Whether youre buying a used sailboat thats new to you or youve owned your boat for decades, the standing rigging is what keeps the mast in place, and thus requires particular attention. 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. To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500. If you want a life raft, that's another $1,500. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. Running rigging is the rigging of a sailing vessel that is used for raising, lowering, shaping and controlling the sails on a sailing vesselas opposed to the standing rigging, which supports the mast and bowsprit. Inevitably. Mechanical fittings can be applied using a few common hand tools by the mechanically handy DIY sailor, which is one reason theyre popular. As with electronics, safety gear, and even sails, technology has significantly improved cordage. After that, you'll need to change them out. NEW FLAT SCREEN 43' TV IN THE SALON - 2019. Make Wire cutting Jig. For later reference, photograph each wire end, terminal and mast attachmentditto for the lower ends, turnbuckles, toggles and chainplatestaking careful note of the positions of the turnbuckles. Read more on the lifetime expectancy of marine diesels here. Tensioning them will be done later in the rigging sequence. 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 total maintenance cost for a small daytripper will average around $1,600 per year or $133 per month. It will always be a judgment call. 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). 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 are multiple combinations and variations: For instance, if your mast has double tangs, most likely the end fitting will be an eye although it can be a marine eye or an aircraft eye, which differ primarily in shape. Replacing your old worn out or damaged standing rigging is a crucial requirement to insure your safety and the safety of others. The first decision is whether to tackle the job with the mast up or down. Your subscription could not be saved. If you want to go for super low stretch halyards look at Spectra but the stretch isnt much more for a lot more bucks. Headed by Dona Bertarelli, the Spindrift team has been on a mission to set a read more, In some stunning footage from onboard reporter Antoine Auriol, Boris Herrmann and his team aboard Malizia decided to cut their Code 0 free after it came loose and got tangled in the keel last night. Free shipping on $90+! Chafe usually happens gradually over long periods of time and it is only a serious problem when it goes unnoticed. I live in Friesland, The Netherlands, which is famous for its great lakes and lots of sailing opportunities. The idea is you come on deck with this small canvas bag and make it happen, Cockerill says. 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. This is some excellent information! Most people starting out will get a smaller size boat and use it for day trips and weekend trips. Enough tape to cover a cotter pin suffices; otherwise, leave the metal open to the air. We are a proud supplier of Yale Cordage. Many boat owners are reluctant to replace their running rigging, and for good reason, it can be expensive! Hi, I'm Shawn, and when I was 2 years old, I was sailing (with my parents) on the English Channel during a proper storm (and by proper I mean something along the lines of force 10). Your costs will range from a couple of hundred dollars for a small outboard up to over a thousand for a large or difficult to reach inboard. My boat has been in fresh water all its life. When rigging the sails of a sailboat, it is important to properly prepare the boat. From canvas and cushions to rigging and hardware by top suppliers like Lewmar, Schaefer, Gray, Ronstan, and more. Either way, Jimmie Cockerill, co-owner of the Rigging Company in Annapolis, recommends that for a sailboat with wire rigging, the mast should be pulled and all fittings and wire visually inspected every five to six years. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. Deck hardware consists of the bullseyes, tiller, eye straps, cleats, and so on. On modern boats, chainplates are fitted outboard (right) and covered with a plate that lets water drain. What kind of end fittings? There is no hard and fast rule for "when" to replace your running rigging. Stainless steel needs oxygen to prevent crevice corrosion, so dont overdo it with tape (left); enough to cover the cotter pin will suffice (center). Personally, Im in favor of it, but if you replace the standing rigging frequentlyevery 10 years, saythen it might not be necessary. When inspecting your rig you should also make an inventory of all its parts and their dimensions. Top manufacturers of swaged fittings are Hayn Marine Rigging Products, Alexander Roberts and C. Sherman Johnson. Theres such a safety margin in rigging. A standard 15HP or 20HP outboard gas engine will cost you about $5,000 - $6,000 and needs replacing every 20 years or so. 26' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $1,000 - $2,500. The standing rigging consists of wires supporting the mast on a sailboat and reinforcing the spars from the force of the sails when sailing. Do you hire a pro or go it alone? I ended up just replacing all of the standing rigging through rigginonly.com in Fairhaven Ma. Give us a call, and we can give you a rough quote. Why do you want to suddenly replace all your running rigging? Tag each line with a sticker noting which line it is. Standing rigging supports your boat's mast. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. That cost me $10k. Now would also be a good time to change those old cotter pins and circlip rings as well. read more, 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years.

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