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

Did you know that rope halyards are easier to handle and significantly lighter than wire halyards. Have a feel for any rough or sharp edges, especially cotter pin ends that might chafe lines or sails. All you need is two blocks (pulley attachments) attached forward on both sides, ideally near the toerail, and enough line to run from the boom attachment up to the blocks on each side and then back to the cockpit. [1] If you own a bluewater cruiser, your maintenance cost will go up a lot. The owner didnt adjust the rigging to compensate for the stretch for several seasons. They can provide a higher percentage of nominal capacity than lead-acid batteries, without shortening their life. The cost to replace standing rigging obviously varies from boat to boat. Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. Chafe occurs when line rubs against a sharp or rough surface. Write the diameter near the hole with sharpie. I'm on Lake Michigan. 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. A good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. The former need careful scrutiny and often sustain damage from misalignment. It's also called antifouling paint because it helps to protect your hull from weeds, barnacles, and so on. Are the chainplates sound? Good question. Top manufacturers of swaged fittings are Hayn Marine Rigging Products, Alexander Roberts and C. Sherman Johnson. The boat owner or previous rigger had clearly replaced the old line without looking for the source of the chafe. Our sailboat ropes and lines were designed to withstand any weather condition without fraying, tearing, or catching. 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. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . 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. First, its easier to fix in remote places and on your own. JavaScript is disabled. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. 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! 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. and about a 200' " anchor .line. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. You could be setting yourself up for some serious problems, as well a spending a lot of unnecessary money into the bargain. There is no hard and fast rule for when to replace your running rigging. Now is a good time to install all new cotter pins or rings to leave no doubt as to the integrity of your connections. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. 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. Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. Three strand is referable and less expensive than braid for dock and anchor lines also a lot easier to splice. 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. It does not all wear out at the same rate. Deck hardware consists of the bullseyes, tiller, eye straps, cleats, and so on. Technical support for boat owners and maintenance yards servicing Sabre sail and motor yachts | Sabre Yachts Technical Support Contacts in Sabre's After Sales Service Department may be reached by calling 207-655-3831 or by filling in the contact form. If you dont have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners association. 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. 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. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. Do a few turns on one side before going to the other and applying an equal number. Sailboat rigging very rarely fails from being overloaded. For a 26' sailboat, that's just 500 bucks. 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! I've read that the inner stays rarely snap. That's just what it is. Allow at least a foot for each splice or knot. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com Winterization is an often-overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. Some have an extra light sheet for real light winds so the sheet doesnt weigh the jib down. But if you want the good stuff, need more fire extinguishers, plan on spending more like $600. You must log in or register to reply here. A third visual indicator are cracks in swaged fittings, some of the most common end fittings for wire. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. Inexpensive, double-braid Dacron is a fine choice for furling lines on most boats shorter than 40 feet. 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? 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.. This is a perfect example to illustrate why a thorough, yearly inspection of running rigging is important. First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). 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. Listing Results for Shore Support & Services, Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde 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. Lastly, check your boom, starting with the gooseneck, mainsheet and vang fittings, where huge forces are applied when the rig is under load. 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. Then the swager is used to compress the fitting so tightly that the wires merge into a solid piece of stainless steel and cant pull out (right). It definitely needed to be replaced. 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. 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. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. Some of these might not apply to your situation. Now, let's return to the original proposition, which was a complete replacementon three different cost levelsof basic running rigging for a 32 sloop. If you want to go for super low stretch halyards look at Spectra but the stretch isnt much more for a lot more bucks. They aren't even worn enough to require end-for ending yet. For an average 40-foot boat, Cockerill estimates about $100 per foot to re-rig with wire rigging ($4,000), as well as the round-trip cost to haul and launch the boat and unstep and step the rig (an additional $2,500 or so). This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. Why do you want to suddenly replace all your running rigging? The reason it is a scheduled item is that a visual inspection prolly won't detect defects. 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. Since each one is 34' and then add another 6-10 to be safe? 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. 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. Batteries have a limited number of charge cycles. 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. But you should think carefully before you go ahead and buy any high tech replacement running rigging. Let me explain. With all of these factors in mind, what can you expect to pay for standing rigging replacement? With a spare mechanical end fitting, wire and the proper tools, you can replace a stay pretty much anywhere. Let them know any of your concerns before they get started. On top of that, maintaining your boat properly is critical. Most masts have integral sheaves, which are rarely serviced except when the mast is unsteppedoften only at five-year intervals. Where you can really save some money, is on the labor. All rights reserved. Their solidworks simulations revealed the rigging was on the lighter side. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. The average price of new sailboats is $250,000, ranging from $96,000 to $654,000. Marlow Ropes in the UK produce Marlowbraid. What kind of end fittings? If you suspect a possible crack, try running some dye over itthe crack will become much more obvious that way. It requires more careful consideration of condition, usage, and inspection for signs of failure. However, what you'll actually pay really depends on the type of boat you have and what you do with it. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. The total maintenance cost for a liveaboard will average around $1,550 per year or $129 per month. If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500. I'll also inquire about upgrading to one size up. Usually the owners manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. 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. You should have the boat itself (the hull), the dagger board, the rudder and tiller, your mainsheet, both mast pieces, boom, boom bang and sail in one place. Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. 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. If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. How do you know when its time to re-rig? Thus the standing rigging is made up of all the cables and . So I've added it to the "be aware this might happen" list - but won't add it to the monthly recurring costs. The total maintenance cost on a tight budget can get as low as $275 per year, or $23 per month. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime. Gas engine will last a lot less long than diesels. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. 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? 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. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. Chafe usually happens gradually over long periods of time and it is only a serious problem when it goes unnoticed. 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. 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 . 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. Saltwater is a lot more corrosive, and the stress on your rigging and sails will be higher. [1] 2. They might have swollen, so the new will appear to be a smaller gauge. The diameter of the sheets and halyards will depend on what fits the blocks that you have. Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years. When the rig is tuned the wires are stretched. You can take a masthead halyard from side to side to ensure that the masthead is on center. What would be the maintenance cost if you were on a tight budget? Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. Tag each line with a sticker noting which line it is. 0 www.rigbos.com. Read more on the lifetime expectancy of marine diesels here. Our sailboat running rigging includes sailboat mainsheets, sailboat halyards, and all major sailboat lines. 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. Just because a line or even the whole boat is new, doesnt mean there isnt something wrong with the running rigging. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. For those with external halyard blocks, check to make sure all lines run freely and that block bearings arent worn. Read more on the average cost to replace a boat starter here. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2 nylon: 25 bow, 15 stern, and 20 spring. 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. Kinks in wire is like chafe on a line. 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 installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. In this article, I'll show you what to expect. This one didnt. 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. Add winches and UV rays and the wear and tear can be significant so it's important to use a quality line. NEW FLAT SCREEN 36" TV IN THE V-BERTH - 2019 Replace Running Rigging, Lifelines and Engine Repairs 3/2018. The former requires someone with a swage machine to fit terminals, the latter you can fit yourselfwith care. Sailboat Running Rigging You don't want to have faulty sailboat running rigging.