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. 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. Usually the owners manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. 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. 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. 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 imported and sold through distributors like Alps Wire Rope. With very slippery high tech line it is also possible to pull the knot through itself, and with an extra slippery line such as Yale Light its even possible to pull an eye splice out.. 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 boat owner or previous rigger had clearly replaced the old line without looking for the source of the chafe. Maybe dying or some other high tech test would. Boats used for coastal cruising, week ending or day sailing may go longer. All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. 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? They can provide a higher percentage of nominal capacity than lead-acid batteries, without shortening their life. The running rigging consists of the halyards, sheets . Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. 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. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Read more on the lifetime expectancy of marine diesels here. Did you know that rope halyards are easier to handle and significantly lighter than wire halyards. Yes, its unlikely youll suffer a massive failure during normal coastal cruising, but it is good practice to spend a little time looking carefully at each element of your rig at least once a month, or before a cruise lasting more than a few daysparticularly if heavy weather is expected. 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. The total maintenance cost on a tight budget can get as low as $275 per year, or $23 per month. It's a really helpful post (with a formula) if you want to know what to expect. If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. Run the shrouds and attach them to the deadeyes on the hull. How do you know when its time to re-rig? Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. Polyester double braid works great for frequently adjusted lines, like main and jib sheets, or moderately loaded control lines. I can only assume this is due to the risk of rocking the hull off its jackstands. 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. If you replace the rigging preventively, you should never experience the failure I did. If you follow directions, they are fairly straightforward to install, although not especially easy. In marine environments, everything can go wrong exactly one time for it to be critical. Note wire and pin diameters and measure the wires as accurately as possible between pin centers with the rig fully tensioned. 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. Assuming you have decided to replace the rigging wire as well as a number of other components, the first decision is whether to do it with the mast up or down. The short answer is, lithium batteries perform better and last longer than many lead-acid batteries. Run the remaining standing rigging. For my 41 feet sloop, I did most of the installation myself and paid approximately $4700 for the entire rig replacement. 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. 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. Dyneema is especially susceptible to UV degradation. And if you get a young, strong, enthusiastic gorilla on a halyard winch, he could pull the headboard out of the sail, damage the sheave at the masthead or pull the turning block at the base of the mast out of the deck. 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 recently sailed on a boat that had rust around the wire/swage on all the shrouds. If you want to go for super low stretch halyards look at Spectra but the stretch isnt much more for a lot more bucks. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. We are cruisers who sail around 500 nm per year, and are able to avoid frequent encounters with heavy weather by laying over if storms are in the offing. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. That said, some sailors prefer wire over rod for a number of reasons. Now, let's return to the original proposition, which was a complete replacementon three different cost levelsof basic running rigging for a 32 sloop. (Deck-stepped masts are less prone to corrosion as the foot of the mast is open to the air and can dry quickly.) 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. 9034 GD Marsum Any line that you have to handle such as jib sheets, halyards and mainsheet should be about half inch (12mm) diameter for a good grip, and jib sheets and mainsheets should be one of the softer feel products. Boom Vang. Tips on leading lines aft to the cockpit for single-handed sailing; Running rigging color selection, line storage, and more! To avoid excessive wear, make sure your halyard sheaves are the proper type for whatever line you select. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. rigbos.com our online store is a progression allowing us to more effisantly supply customer Members of ABYC . 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. The total maintenance cost for a bluewater cruiser will average around $3,225 per year or $269 per month. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. On average, it costs about $15 to $20 per foot to get your sailboat hull painted professionally. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. You will most likely also need (or want) to replace toggles and cotter pins, even if you keep the turnbuckles. Prices for new boats typically range from $100,000 to $500,000. The cost to replace standing rigging obviously varies from boat to boat. 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. Deep cycle batteries (which are best for household functionality) need replacing every 4-6 years and will cost roughly $600. No signs of corrosion or stray strands anywhere. When we brought our Oday 25 home ,I knew judging from the lack of care the previous owner shown the rigging might also be suspect. 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. Would you replace this? Most people need 2 risers + 2 exhaust manifolds. 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. 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. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. Few places on the planet have such a devoted, diverse, and downright joyful yacht racing season as the island read more, Ive never laughed so hard as I have on some of my charters, but its typically only funny after the fact. Ensure swivels are working and remove any shackles. I just replaced all the rope running rigging on a Catalina 27 for about $300. It will always be a judgment call. Inspect any integral reefing sheaves or bearing wear or UV degradation. A boat in the water is in constant motion and the rigging experiences constant micro shock loads even when sitting in the slip. 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. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. And never forget the golden rule: if in doubt, sling it out. Today, with the advent of super-strong synthetic line such as AmSteel and Dyneema, the need for that extra wire and gear is eliminated. 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. I personally take stock of a pleasure boat's components and their age and will not load an older boat's rigging as much as I would a newer one. Give us a call, and we can give you a rough quote. A third visual indicator are cracks in swaged fittings, some of the most common end fittings for wire. That was a case of not knowing that the worst thing you can do to standing rigging is have it loose on the leeward side, he says. This video illustrates how to change your halyard rope in your sailboat. Sticking to the 10-year rule, Madden says, means that for the most part, any corrosion or failure points will be eliminated with a re-rig. 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. Bluey Williams's yard was a cowshed in Lawnton near the North Pine River, on the northern side of Brisbane and inland from Redcliffe. Send messengers up mast for in-mast rigging - 3/2018 This was seen on a brand new boat at the 2020 Seattle Boat Show. On top of that, maintaining your boat properly is critical. I think the owner needs to replace those but there's a Covid problem. 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. 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. The masthead is a good place to start, and while youre at it, its worth looking closely at the mast as well as the rigging, to see if any corrosion, cracks or weld defects are evident. This produces an easy-to-handle rope that is strong and durable. 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. On a sailboat, a distinction is made between running rigging and standing rigging. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. What kind of end fittings? If you have (reasonable) evidence that the PO replaced only the worst sections, it's safe to assume that the rest of the rig is getting ancient and failure prone. 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. Well, for starters, I'd recommend doing most small maintenance yourself and ignore all non-essential. 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. You can see that the chafe is only occurring on one side of the line, the side that comes in contact with the sheave. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. Preparing The Boat For Rigging. 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. The cover on core dependent dyneema line normally acts as the first defense against UV rays and chafe, but when you strip it back, the dyneema has to fend for itself. Dear improvesailing.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-supported by facts and figures. And if you see evidence of wear, ask yourself (or your local rigger) What could have caused this? The cost of having a professional rigger inspect your running rigging can save you more money down the road. Stainless steel needs oxygen to prevent crevice corrosion, so dont overdo it with tape (left); enough to cover the cotter pin will suffice (center). 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. Die testing wont pick it up, and its rare that a wire will give you warning before breaking.. Thus the standing rigging is made up of all the cables and . 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. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. So I've added it to the "be aware this might happen" list - but won't add it to the monthly recurring costs. The number one destroyer of line is chafe. 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. Use nylon 3-Strand for anchor, dock, mooring and tow lines or polyester 3-strand for running rigging on traditional cruising boats. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Your engine will wear out faster, and you'll need more incidental repairs as well. 26' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $1,000 - $2,500. The screw threads and locking nuts need regular cleaning and some light greasing to prevent corrosion. To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500. 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). As you can see, most of these costs are longterm recurring maintenance costs. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. However, larger boats of 30 feet and up will cost considerably more. And if your boat is in the the Seattle area, wed love to come take a look at your running rigging. Replacing the roller-furling control line is an easy do-it-yourself job for the boat owner. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. If you dont have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners association. 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. There is minor chafe on all sides of the line and along the entire length. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. 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 . Although the hull actually read more, It was March, and Id made it through another Maine winter. Strong, durable lines are essential for controlling the sails on your boat without risking your own safety, or that of the sails. Start at the bottom, working your way up from the lowers, to the cap shrouds and finally the stays. Too narrow for equivalent ropeshould be 10% wider than the diameter of the rope. First, check for cracks (usually longitudinal), particularly if the terminal looks misshapen or the stay is misaligned in any way. If your running rigging has seen better days, now might be the time to replace it. 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. Youll need about 500 feet for an average 30 footer. Also look to see if there are any broken wires where the shroud enters the terminal. The three most commonly used types of attachments are swaged and mechanical fittings for wire, and cold heads for rod. The interval of longterm maintenance will increase dramatically in these conditions. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. Keep the tension equal on each side by counting the turns on each turnbuckle. I use a 3D model and some diagrams. The running rigging consists of all the lines, sheets, and so on that is used to haul and operate the sails. The Down Haul consists of a line attached to the mast end of the boom. 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. 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. Sailboat rigging very rarely fails from being overloaded. 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. The final price depends on two things - what type of engine you have, and how hard it is to get to the starter. Place the top of the sail in the mast track and pull on the halyard. I won't go into detail, but I have written an in-depth article about the cost of new sails (opens in new tab). For instance, for an offshore bluewater boat, Madden recommends 10 years, and for a serious coastal cruiser, more like 12. Here's a full overview of all the recurring maintenance from most to least frequent. The condition of this halyard is likely due to UV degradation. The owner didnt adjust the rigging to compensate for the stretch for several seasons. Likewise, if you already have wire with fittings that accommodate your boat and mast, stick with wire. Put together both the pieces of your mast. Now is a good time to give it a quick spray with some track lubricant as you descend. The former requires someone with a swage machine to fit terminals, the latter you can fit yourselfwith care. For those with external halyard blocks, check to make sure all lines run freely and that block bearings arent worn. Running Rigging & Cordage to Order . I used the Sta-Set solid color line to easily identify the lines. Remove old lifelines and frayed running rigging. 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? This is a very serious problem for the average sailor. If in doubt, get a professional opinion. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. 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. Down Haul. Swaging is a strong and durable way to attach end fittings to wire rigging. Small dents in either the mast or the boom are often hotspots for failure, as they weaken the form of the spar. Use a low stretch Dacron such as Sta-Set-X for halyards. 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. 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. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. So how often should standing rigging be replaced? Theres no real way of measuring that. When inspecting your rig you should also make an inventory of all its parts and their dimensions. 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. 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. Do this by placing a wrap of tape 3 up from the upper chainplate pin hole on each upper shroud. 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. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Just a FYI. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. 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. 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. Enough tape to cover a cotter pin suffices; otherwise, leave the metal open to the air. I'll explain each line item in detail later on. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. 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. For each diameter of rigging wire your boat requires drill a hole that size near the corner of the block. 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. 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. Chafe occurs when line rubs against a sharp or rough surface. Dont forget the turnbuckles and chain plates. [1] Tensioning them will be done later in the rigging sequence. 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. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your running rigging. Additionally, a DIY sailor needs to do plenty of research, particularly when it comes to wire quality, which is something professional sailboat rigging companies watch like hawks. 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. Let's go over each type and break down which costs to expect exactly. A Bonnier LLC Company. In a tropical area, or high sunshine location, you should replace the running rigging every six to eight years. There are some question as to whether or not you should replace your turnbuckles along with the wire. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Make Wire cutting Jig. Some boaters don't shrink wrap in the winter because of it. 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. A standard 15HP or 20HP outboard gas engine will cost you about $5,000 - $6,000 and needs replacing every 20 years or so. Kinks in wire is like chafe on a line. A boat with sound supports should not require re-tuning in less than 5 years. Chafe usually happens gradually over long periods of time and it is only a serious problem when it goes unnoticed. Parts total: $600 on average They weigh less and take up less room. All rod rigging terminates in a cold head, which accommodates the end fitting or is encapsulated by the end fitting. Replacing the running rigging on your sailboat seems like it should be fairly simple, and a decade or two ago, it was. 34' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $3,000 - $5,000. If your boat is in a full cradle, however, this shouldnt be an issue. Now is a good time to install all new cotter pins or rings to leave no doubt as to the integrity of your connections. But you know what is more expensive? Hardwood would be best but we used epoxied plywood and it was adequate. Winter storms and ice can damage the hull and mast as well. (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.). These specific components likewise reinforce the spars against increased loads when wind interacts . This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. On our old boat we had the Port Aft lower shroud fail while sailing. All rights reserved. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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.. Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. Check by sighting up the backside of the mast to see how straight your spar is side to side.
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