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

Attach as many of the rigging lines as possible to the masts, booms, and gaffs. Place the top of the sail in the mast track and pull on the halyard. 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. On longer boats, you can opt for a furling-line material of more esoteric double-braids with less stretch. 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. All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. Note wire and pin diameters and measure the wires as accurately as possible between pin centers with the rig fully tensioned. The reason it is a scheduled item is that a visual inspection prolly won't detect defects. Masthead sloop, single spreader, 2 cap shrouds, 4 lowers, r/r forestay, single backstay. Account. I agree with a general average of 20 years for replacing the standing rigging. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Leave each line with extra length, and coil the lines up. How exactly do you determine how much line you need for a given size sailboat? 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. For all remaining running rigging, you can use polyester double-braid rope. On top of that, maintaining your boat properly is critical. Check and make sure the sheaves run freely, that the bearings are not worn oval and that the retaining pins are secure. Some have an extra light sheet for real light winds so the sheet doesnt weigh the jib down. Splices should be made by a professional, high tech line is very difficult to cut. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? The only thing we can really do is regularly inspect lines to look for wear. Replacing your old worn out or damaged standing rigging is a crucial requirement to insure your safety and the safety of others. Too narrow for equivalent ropeshould be 10% wider than the diameter of the rope. 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. 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. NEW FLAT SCREEN 43' TV IN THE SALON - 2019. In the past, long-distance cruisers typically chose wire rigging with mechanical fittings for all of these reasons. 0 www.rigbos.com. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't had a trailer until last year so the mast was up through the winter. Failing to winterize it will increase your maintenance cost over time, as the engine wears out more quickly, and your plumbing and equipment will fall apart. The total maintenance cost for a liveaboard will average around $1,550 per year or $129 per month. 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. A lot of new boat owners overlook the maintenance costs of sailboats - and maintenance can get pricey quickly. Write the diameter near the hole with sharpie. And if your boat is in the the Seattle area, wed love to come take a look at your running rigging. Listing Results for Shore Support & Services, Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde Give us a call, and we can give you a rough quote. Boom Vang. Now, let's return to the original proposition, which was a complete replacementon three different cost levelsof basic running rigging for a 32 sloop. Youll need about 500 feet for an average 30 footer. The simple answer is to measure it. Your engine will wear out faster, and you'll need more incidental repairs as well. I'll explain each line item in detail later on. When youre happy everything is in place, its time to tune your rig. I found some tests that some SBO folks had done many years ago on the O'Day 25's standing rigging. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. A boat with sound supports should not require re-tuning in less than 5 years. 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.. 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. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). Steps. We offer a full range of sailing lines to replace any or all the running rigging on your boat such as halyards, sailboat sheets or control lines. 34' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $3,000 - $5,000. 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. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2" nylon: 25' bow, 15' stern, and 20' spring. But Marissa and Chris Neely on Avocet saw a weather window and jumped, making their first big offshore passage the wrong way from Santa Barbara to San Francisco and loving itmostly. This way you wont risk deforming the mast or pulling a fitting out of line. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. Rig inspections, rig replacement and rig upgrades is how we can help. Whether you want to replace aging and questionable rigging, be able to handle a wider range of weather conditions, or add sail trimming upgrades for more speed and better pointing to windward, this ebook will show you . Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support a sailing ship or sail boat 's masts standing rigging, including shrouds and stays and which adjust the position of the vessel's sails and spars to which they are attachedthe running rigging, including halyards, braces, sheets and vangs. Running Rigging & Cordage to Order . This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. Not all maintenance is as important. This is a perfect example to illustrate why a thorough, yearly inspection of running rigging is important. It requires more careful consideration of condition, usage, and inspection for signs of failure. 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. Liveaboards that don't really sail that much have less maintenance to do in one way, and more in another. As with electronics, safety gear, and even sails, technology has significantly improved cordage. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. 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. This halyard has minor chafe right now, but the chafe is acute and has an identifiable source. Sailors' hands are busy with the running rigging most on a sailboat. Copyright 2023 Cruising World. In a tropical area, or high sunshine location, you should replace the running rigging every six to eight years. If you use your batteries extensively, they will most likely need replacing after 3-4 years, for example, for liveaboards or full-time cruisers. The condition of this halyard is likely due to UV degradation. Tips on leading lines aft to the cockpit for single-handed sailing; Running rigging color selection, line storage, and more! Riggers say the question of whether to rig with wire or rod is usually fairly easily answered: Run what you brung. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. 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. Still a lot of people single braid nylon for docklines, its a little more flexible. The most common location of chainplate failure is where one disappears into the deck and cant be inspected. Winterization is an often-overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. The 150 Genoa sheets were 35 feet each as Faster suggests but my halyard lines, which are wire and rope were only 40 feet of rope. Rigging is a significant part of building a model ship. Good question. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. One part of sailboats and yachts that must be inspected, maintained, or even replaced when necessary is the standing rigging. When I thought about it this way, it seemed easy to give ourselves 20 years of confidence for our Lake Erie boat, rather than take the risk of waiting. For each diameter of rigging wire your boat requires drill a hole that size near the corner of the block. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. 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. 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. A running manoeuvre has a free end that can be acted upon. It would help if we knew what your boat was! The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. At least once a year, at the beginning or end of the sailing season, you should visually inspect all of your running rigging and look for signs of wear. Madden says that cost isnt linear, though; as you go up in size (a bigger boat needs heavier wire and larger fittings), youll spend more. For instance, the Rigging Company makes a spare-stay kit that can accommodate either wire or rod rigging repairs, Cockerill says. 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. Lets say you ripped a tang out of the mast; you can use a Dyneema loop to create another attachment point. Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. 1. 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. 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. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. There are also a few spots where the chafe is more serious. Regardless of what fittings you currently have the choice for multi-stranded wire rigging is between swaged terminals or mechanical fittings. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. we have provided rigging services and have specialized in running rigging. This produces an easy-to-handle rope that is strong and durable. Gas engine will last a lot less long than diesels. If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. The Rigging Company gears much of its sales to DIY sailors and is beginning an e-commerce site to cater specifically to handy individuals. Start by digging out the bosuns chair and finding a trusted (and hopefully fit) buddy to help you. You will most likely also need (or want) to replace toggles and cotter pins, even if you keep the turnbuckles. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. That said, some sailors prefer wire over rod for a number of reasons. I've read that the inner stays rarely snap. The mechanical terminals most commonly used by DIY riggers are Sta-Lok and Norseman terminals. 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. Contact us Parts total: $600 on average The Netherlands Dear improvesailing.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-supported by facts and figures. 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. A third visual indicator are cracks in swaged fittings, some of the most common end fittings for wire. Listing Results for Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde Three strand is referable and less expensive than braid for dock and anchor lines also a lot easier to splice. Cleat the jib off on the port side of the mast and the main on the starboard. I'm on Lake Michigan. A standard 15HP or 20HP outboard gas engine will cost you about $5,000 - $6,000 and needs replacing every 20 years or so. The following resources contain do-it-yourself information on upgrading and maintenance. 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. It is very flexible and easy to handle, and is still the line of choice for most applications on cruisers and club racers. PACESHIP PY26 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com. That's a broad range, but if you know what you need for your boat, then you can get a better idea of the cost. I cant understand why they wanted 75 feet for the main as I still have 25-30 feet even when the main sheet is eased all the way. Do this by placing a wrap of tape 3 up from the upper chainplate pin hole on each upper shroud. Today, with the advent of super-strong synthetic line such as AmSteel and Dyneema, the need for that extra wire and gear is eliminated. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Connect the halyard to the head of the sail, here we are looping the halyard back over its plastic stopper to lock it in place. 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. Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so. With the forestay removed, take the opportunity to fully service your headsail furling gear as well. Check the deck around the chainplates and mast for cracking and delamination. Sta-Set X is an ideal. Yes, doing it yourself will theoretically save money. The cost to replace standing rigging obviously varies from boat to boat. . All this small hardware needs to be replaced every 20-30 years and will amount to about $1,500. These boats have less moving parts and less critical parts. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. That's just what it is. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. 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. Now is a good time to give it a quick spray with some track lubricant as you descend. Just a FYI. How much does a used sail cost? Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. So here are some tips and things to look for so that you can replace your running rigging before it breaks. Kinks in wire is like chafe on a line. [advertisement]. Double braid lines are used in running rigging and dock . The biggest problem with rigging and older sailboat with high-tech lines to control the sails is that the lines are too strong for the boat. 2. You can also use sacrificial covers to protect halyards from clutch damage,. Your sail area will most likely also be larger, which means your sail replacement will be more expensive. 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. The sails, rigging, and engine will be less critical if you won't take her out very often. 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. Mount the masts. 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. Then we head over to Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies for a tu. Consider this a half inch diameter Samson Tech-12 (12 Strand Technora) line has an average breaking load of 33,000 pounds. 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. If the leeward shroud flops around underway, the constant flexing will weaken the metal over time and make it more prone to fail. Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. The diameter of the sheets and halyards will depend on what fits the blocks that you have. The two primary manufacturers of mechanical fittings presently are Sta-Lok and Petersen Stainless, which produces Hi-MOD. Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! The deciding factor of how much will this cost exactly is whether you can simply bolt the new engine in or whether you have to adjust all other parts, including shaft logs, exhausts, electrics, and so on. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. [1] 2. rigbos.com our online store is a progression allowing us to more effisantly supply customer Members of ABYC . Inspect the area around tang plates and toggle fittings for cracks, preferably using a magnifying glass. A rope with a Dyneema core (SK 78 or better) with a polyester cover that can be removed from the working ends would be best. I used the Sta-Set solid color line to easily identify the lines. Lastly, check your boom, starting with the gooseneck, mainsheet and vang fittings, where huge forces are applied when the rig is under load. The final price depends on two things - what type of engine you have, and how hard it is to get to the starter. I have broken more than my share of components in newer boats while a lot less in older boats. Most people starting out will get a smaller size boat and use it for day trips and weekend trips. Normal rigging knives and hot knives are almost useless, all turning blocks and sheaves must have a diameter of at least 8 times the line diameter, old sheaves, turning blocks and other hardware will probably not be strong enough for high tech line, high tech line can cost up to $10 per foot. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. You could be setting yourself up for some serious problems, as well a spending a lot of unnecessary money into the bargain. Standing rigging supports your boat's mast. Start at the bottom, working your way up from the lowers, to the cap shrouds and finally the stays. Cut a square piece of wood about 3-4 on each side. Where you can really save some money, is on the labor. . Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. If your boat is in a full cradle, however, this shouldnt be an issue. [advertisement] Take this opportunity to check out your spars as well. The average maintenance cost will be roughly $255 dollars per month for boats under 30' or just under $3,000 per year. Use nylon 3-Strand for anchor, dock, mooring and tow lines or polyester 3-strand for running rigging on traditional cruising boats. Use a low stretch Dacron such as Sta-Set-X for halyards. 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 . To be more precise, the highly tensioned stays and shrouds that support the mast are known collectively as standing rigging, whilst the rope halyards, sheets and other control lines come under the heading of running rigging. We're the first and last stop for parts and accessories. For those with external halyard blocks, check to make sure all lines run freely and that block bearings arent worn. The installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. 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. The life span of rigging depends on how heavily a boat has been sailed and on the care taken with tuning. Free shipping on $90+! This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. This number is reached by assuming that the average cost for materials is around $1,500, 32 hours to fabricate the rigging, and 30 hours to install the rigging. Your mainsheet probably sees more use than your spinnaker halyard.Our spinnaker halyards- on a boat that races frequently- are about 18 years old, and do not need replacing. 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). The annual maintenance cost is $2,000 - $3,000 for most boats, but the actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000. First, its easier to fix in remote places and on your own. Theres such a safety margin in rigging. These specific components likewise reinforce the spars against increased loads when wind interacts . Tag each line with a sticker noting which line it is. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period. Theres a rule of thumb, but it varies rigger to rigger, says Steve Madden, co-owner of M Yacht Services in Annapolis and the head of its M Rigging division. So you don't want them on there. The next area deserving close scrutiny is the spreaders. 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. The latter is very important, as its a common cause of weakness, so wherever possible ensure stainless steel fittings are insulated from an aluminum mast. Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years. 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. Would you replace this? Most engines will last you about 20 years, depending on the amount of use and whether you use it properly. 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%. With chainplates its often not the actual hardware that fails, but the structure that supports them. 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.