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

Wendy Mitman Clarke is currently between passages. Another trouble spot on keel-stepped masts is where the spar enters the deck, especially if water has leaked under the mast collar. Swaging is a strong and durable way to attach end fittings to wire rigging. PACESHIP PY26 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com. 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. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. 0 www.rigbos.com. LUBE SAIL TRACK MATERIALS 3/2019. Your engine will wear out faster, and you'll need more incidental repairs as well. You could be setting yourself up for some serious problems, as well a spending a lot of unnecessary money into the bargain. Most insurance companies reckon you should replace your standing rigging about every 10 years. 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. If you're hoisting the sail on land, make sure the bow of the boat is pointing towards the wind. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. 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. Usually the owners manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. In the past, long-distance cruisers typically chose wire rigging with mechanical fittings for all of these reasons. 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. The simple answer is to measure it. Attach as many of the rigging lines as possible to the masts, booms, and gaffs. For a 26' sailboat, that's just 500 bucks. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. And if your boat is in the the Seattle area, wed love to come take a look at your running rigging. The warm trade winds in the West Indies were calling; time to go sailing. I've read that the inner stays rarely snap. 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). I'll agree that most of the kinks were created during stepping or prepping for storage. Most of my clients say to me without any prompting, This is one area I feel should be done by a professional, Madden says. Theres such a safety margin in rigging. If you look closely at the line right before it wraps around behind the spindle, youll see that it is starting to chafe because there is not a fair lead for the line running into the slot. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. (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. The average annual maintenance cost of sailboats is between $2,000 - $3,000. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. Get all your parts together. The average price of a used cruising sailboat is between $10,000 and $100,000. Have a feel for any rough or sharp edges, especially cotter pin ends that might chafe lines or sails. Put together both the pieces of your mast. 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. A good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Run the remaining standing rigging. When rigging the sails of a sailboat, it is important to properly prepare the boat. 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. After that, you'll need to change them out. If you're on a budget, you can maintain your boat reasonably well for just $1,000 / year. The total maintenance cost varies a lot, depending on the following factors: Still, we want a general feel of what to expect. Do a few turns on one side before going to the other and applying an equal number. Plus, this line won't harden with age. Wire rigging is generally less expensive and easier to handle. The idea is you come on deck with this small canvas bag and make it happen, Cockerill says. USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly. Don't forget that this site will also replace your rigging. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your running rigging. All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. 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. What would be the maintenance cost if you were on a tight budget? 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. A good boat supply store will be able to help. Send messengers up mast for in-mast rigging - 3/2018 Running the halyards Both the Jib and Main halyards are purple , high-load, Marlow Spectra line. With a spare mechanical end fitting, wire and the proper tools, you can replace a stay pretty much anywhere. You cannot use a mechanical fitting on rod rigging. If your boat is in a full cradle, however, this shouldnt be an issue. Having to hire a rigger to climb your mast to run a new halyard after the old one breaks. Sta-Set X is an ideal. Still a lot of people single braid nylon for docklines, its a little more flexible. Cut a square piece of wood about 3-4 on each side. 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? How do you know when its time to re-rig? Sailboat Rigging. Double Braid: A braided core inside a braided cover. . Rigging is a significant part of building a model ship. The owner didnt adjust the rigging to compensate for the stretch for several seasons. Sun wear and constant use will wear down the sails and rigging even more. Standing rigging supports your boat's mast. A detailed rig check takes no more than two hours or so to completeabout as long as it takes to provision the boat with a weeks food suppliesonly the result of not doing it can be a good deal more drastic! This halyard has minor chafe right now, but the chafe is acute and has an identifiable source. 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. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. There are some question as to whether or not you should replace your turnbuckles along with the wire. A stripped cover dyneema halyard is a great way to reduce the splice diameter and weight aloft for racers, however, they do have their downsides. If you replace the rigging preventively, you should never experience the failure I did. Ive had some snafus out there to be sure, and they loom large when theyre read more, When One Wrong Makes a Right Everybody knows youre not supposed to sail up the Pacific Coast! The total maintenance cost for a liveaboard will average around $1,550 per year or $129 per month. If you live on a boat in a location where it falls below freezing temperature (good luck!). In a tropical area, or high sunshine location, you should replace the running rigging every six to eight years. Contact us If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. Did you know that rope halyards are easier to handle and significantly lighter than wire halyards. They can provide a higher percentage of nominal capacity than lead-acid batteries, without shortening their life. Skilled marine technicians charge from $75 - $150 per hour. Any requirement to re-tune the rig more often than that would point to wires been stretched beyond their tensile strength minimums. A smaller loop is a makeshift chainplate attachment you can attach it to a neighboring chainplate and attach the stay to it. The next area deserving close scrutiny is the spreaders. 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. Let's hoist the sails and get started! 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. 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. The following resources contain do-it-yourself information on upgrading and maintenance. These boats have less moving parts and less critical parts. We are a proud supplier of Yale Cordage. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. Chafe occurs when line rubs against a sharp or rough surface. But you know what is more expensive? I've read that standing rigging should be replaced anywhere from 10 all the way up to 20 years and also simply based on condition. This way you wont risk deforming the mast or pulling a fitting out of line. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. If you carry a life-raft you'll need to replace that every 12 years as well. Cracks are hard to see (use a magnifying glass), and sometimes marks that look like cracks can be left by the machine used to create the swage. Splices should be made by a professional, high tech line is very difficult to cut. 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. On average, it costs about $15 to $20 per foot to get your sailboat hull painted professionally. For sheets, if you're happy with the length take the old ones off determine the gauge and and match them up. You can take a masthead halyard from side to side to ensure that the masthead is on center. This was seen on a brand new boat at the 2020 Seattle Boat Show. Inspect any integral reefing sheaves or bearing wear or UV degradation. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. 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. It will always be a judgment call. 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. 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. Enough tape to cover a cotter pin suffices; otherwise, leave the metal open to the air. The installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. Every five to six years, the mast should be pulled out of the boat so all fittings and wire or rod can be carefully inspected. Prices for new boats typically range from $100,000 to $500,000. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. 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. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. First, its easier to fix in remote places and on your own. This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. Theres no real way of measuring that. The Down Haul consists of a line attached to the mast end of the boom. Boats used for coastal cruising, week ending or day sailing may go longer. Run the shrouds and attach them to the deadeyes on the hull. 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. This could be a marine eye, a marine fork, a T-head or a J-hook, among others. A boat in the water is in constant motion and the rigging experiences constant micro shock loads even when sitting in the slip. A running manoeuvre has a free end that can be acted upon. Gas engines run for about 1,500 hours, diesel engines run for 5,000. The most common location of chainplate failure is where one disappears into the deck and cant be inspected. If in doubt, get a professional opinion. 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. 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. My boat has been in fresh water all its life. When we talk about sailboat rigging, we mean all the wires, ropes and lines that support the rig and control the sails. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content. Before you contemplate the task of renewing your standing rigging you need to thoroughly inspect all components at close quarters to find out exactly what needs to be replaced and what items can be safely transferred to the new rig. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. You mean all together don't you? 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'll also inquire about upgrading to one size up. That cost me $10k. 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. Remove old lifelines and frayed running rigging. Read more about the cost of replacing risers and manifolds here. So how often should standing rigging be replaced? What kind of end fittings? The total maintenance cost for a small daytripper will average around $1,600 per year or $133 per month. Did you find the answer to your specific question? This line wont last long in these conditions. 26' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $1,000 - $2,500. Generally its much better to stay with the more traditional line for the running rigging of older boats. You want a reliable boat, which means you'll fix anything that needs fixing immediately. However, what you'll actually pay really depends on the type of boat you have and what you do with it. For over 40 years we have specialized in manufacturing standing rigging for all of the major sailboat manufacturers nationwide. Winter storms and ice can damage the hull and mast as well. I actually just replaced the outer turnbuckles. The condition of this halyard is likely due to UV degradation. This halyard had been wrapped around a shroud and tightened to prevent it from slapping against the mast while at the dock. 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. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. The only thing we can really do is regularly inspect lines to look for wear. Dont forget the turnbuckles and chain plates. Its imported and sold through distributors like Alps Wire Rope. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. Buy some light line and run it as you would your sheets and halyards and measure that. This one didnt. First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). Why do you want to suddenly replace all your running rigging? . 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 average cost of a new cruising sailboat is about $250,000. Liveaboards that don't really sail that much have less maintenance to do in one way, and more in another. read more, 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. Hed estimate more like $4,600 for a 40-foot boat, but all of these numbers depend on how much is involved: Are there furlers? The November 1969 Modern Boating magazine . If you use your batteries extensively, they will most likely need replacing after 3-4 years, for example, for liveaboards or full-time cruisers. They also would carry a piece of wire as long as the longest stay on the boat coiled and stowed, which undeniably was sometimes easier said than done as well as spare end fittings and the tools needed to replace a broken shroud or stay. Your subscription could not be saved. The Estimated Costs of Replacing a Jibs and Genoas Sails for boats measuring 42' to 50' can cost around $5,500-$9,000 Sails for boats measuring 36' to 42' can cost around $4,000-$7,000 Sails for boats measuring 32' to 36' can cost around $3,000-$5,000 Sails for boats measuring 24' to 32' can cost around $2,500-$4,000 To the best of my knowledge it hasn't had a trailer until last year so the mast was up through the winter. If you follow directions, they are fairly straightforward to install, although not especially easy. LittleSister said: Re-rigging my 27 footer in 2017 cost me about 860 (though I was something of a captive audience, and didn't shop around - presumably both the boatyard and the riggers made money out of it). Marine sailboat supplier of running rigging - halyards, dock lines and halyar=ds shackles. With chainplates its often not the actual hardware that fails, but the structure that supports them. The short answer is, lithium batteries perform better and last longer than many lead-acid batteries. But Cockerill says it quickly becomes evident whether an owner feels comfortable enough to do the work. It is comprised of fixed lines, wires, or rods that are designed to support each mast or bowsprit on sailing vessels. You must log in or register to reply here. To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500. Aside from the relative cost differences between rod and wire (rod is more expensive), what also makes a switch pricey is having to significantly modify the mast to accept the different rigging. 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. 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. I should have changed mine sooner than I did. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. The former requires someone with a swage machine to fit terminals, the latter you can fit yourselfwith care. By taking on the labor yourself, youll probably save as much as $2,000 on the re-rigging cost, he says. Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. The Out Haul can be simply a single line the pulls the foot of the sail toward the free end of the boom or the Out Haul can consist of an elaborate arrangement of blocks. Would you replace this? 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. 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. Colligo Dux: A relative newcomer to sailboat rigging, Colligo Dux is pre-stretched and heat-treated Dyneema. There are also a few spots where the chafe is more serious. Today, with the advent of super-strong synthetic line such as AmSteel and Dyneema, the need for that extra wire and gear is eliminated. 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. A Bonnier LLC Company. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat. I'm on Lake Michigan. rigbos.com our online store is a progression allowing us to more effisantly supply customer Members of ABYC . Do disconnect them and inspect them very carefully for cracks on a well-lit workbench. For dry storage, part of the process can be to shrink wrap your boat. To avoid excessive wear, make sure your halyard sheaves are the proper type for whatever line you select. Allow at least a foot for each splice or knot. Yes, doing it yourself will theoretically save money. The typical sheets for a low-tech, limited budget sailer is single braid Dacron. The benefits of rod are less stretch, less weight, less windage, and arguably longer life than wire, because theres less possibility for corrosion of the rod itself. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Re-rigging To re-mouse the halyards, flake out the halyard, attach the working end to the mousing line that comes from the masthead, and check they are secure, before pulling back through. The easiest place to work on your rig is on the ground. If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000. Also look to see if there are any broken wires where the shroud enters the terminal. 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. For instance, for an offshore bluewater boat, Madden recommends 10 years, and for a serious coastal cruiser, more like 12. The breaking strength of this line is now significantly reduced. Some of these might not apply to your situation. 1. Kinks in wire is like chafe on a line. Most racers that use stripped cover halyards are diligent about inspecting these lines and some even replace them every season. Do you hire a pro or go it alone? This video illustrates how to change your halyard rope in your sailboat. They aren't even worn enough to require end-for ending yet. 3. Some have an extra light sheet for real light winds so the sheet doesnt weigh the jib down. You can see the difference between the old line on the right and the new line on the left. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. 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. Youll need about 500 feet for an average 30 footer. If you don't have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners' association. But you should think carefully before you go ahead and buy any high tech replacement running 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. Replacing Running Rigging on an Older Sailboat, a bowline or other knot in a high tech line reduces the breaking strength by up to 80%, for jib sheets you must increase the line size to account for the reduced strength more $$$$, an eye splice is required to attach a shackle to a halyard. A boat spending most of the last 10 years on a trailer with the mast in a cradle has only corrosion to consider. Check by sighting up the backside of the mast to see how straight your spar is side to side. And never forget the golden rule: if in doubt, sling it out.