Did you find the answer to your specific question? Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. Master The Standing Rigging On A Sailboat: Illustrated Guide They might have swollen, so the new will appear to be a smaller gauge. 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). The three most commonly used types of attachments are swaged and mechanical fittings for wire, and cold heads for rod. How the rigging has been tuned is also part of a boats story. 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). In marine environments, everything can go wrong exactly one time for it to be critical. Finally, rod rigging requires a particular type of terminus called a cold head that can be fabricated only with a purpose-built machine, which only a rigging shop will have. We replaced the line AND the sheave box to ensure that the new halyard wont chafe. Any requirement to re-tune the rig more often than that would point to wires been stretched beyond their tensile strength minimums. 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. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. 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. So youre sailing offshore and youre looking at the windward shroud thats taut, and thats not the one to worry about. About us Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. I ended up just replacing all of the standing rigging through rigginonly.com in Fairhaven Ma. The Down Haul consists of a line attached to the mast end of the boom. Riggers say the question of whether to rig with wire or rod is usually fairly easily answered: Run what you brung. Check by sighting up the backside of the mast to see how straight your spar is side to side. Standing rigging are the cables that support the mast. Technical support for boat owners and maintenance yards servicing Sabre 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. Headed by Dona Bertarelli, the Spindrift team has been on a mission to set a read more, In some stunning footage from onboard reporter Antoine Auriol, Boris Herrmann and his team aboard Malizia decided to cut their Code 0 free after it came loose and got tangled in the keel last night. To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500. 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. Deck hardware consists of the bullseyes, tiller, eye straps, cleats, and so on. Gas engines run for about 1,500 hours, diesel engines run for 5,000. Now is a good time to give it a quick spray with some track lubricant as you descend. Step 1 - Hire a professional rigger with a good reputation to do a thorough survey of your standing AND running rigging. However, they generally cost more than a swaged fitting; Herman says while Hi-MODs newer mechanical fittings are definitely more user-friendly to assemble, theyre twice the cost of a swaged fitting. Some riggers will recommend swaged fittings for the mast end of the rigging and mechanical fittings at the deck level: Corrosion is less prevalent at the top of the mast, and you can more easily and regularly inspect mechanical fittings at deck level, where theyre frequently subjected to salt water. The average price of a used cruising sailboat is between $10,000 and $100,000. You can also use sacrificial covers to protect halyards from clutch damage,. It was this mistakefailing to untie the read more, After four long months poised to spring into action at the first sign of the right weather window, Spindrift has announced that its record-breaking circumnavigation attempt wont be possible this year. (Deck-stepped masts are less prone to corrosion as the foot of the mast is open to the air and can dry quickly.) 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. It definitely needed to be replaced. Prices for new boats typically range from $100,000 to $500,000. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. What kind of end fittings? This was most likely caused by something sharp and pointy that poked through the cover and caught on the core. 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. We're looking for writers! The golden rule has always been never to work on a rig with the boat out of the water. A professional needs roughly 8 hours to get the job done. Also, you'll have plenty of time doing odd jobs yourself, since you'll be living on the boat. Skilled marine technicians charge from $75 - $150 per hour. Now, let's return to the original proposition, which was a complete replacementon three different cost levelsof basic running rigging for a 32 sloop. 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. If you want to go for super low stretch halyards look at Spectra but the stretch isnt much more for a lot more bucks. You mean all together don't you? 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). It sounds to me that the question is when, not if you will go for new rigging. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. 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. Would you replace this? On our old boat we had the Port Aft lower shroud fail while sailing. If you're on a budget, you can maintain your boat reasonably well for just $1,000 / year. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. It will always be a judgment call. 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. For a medium-sized boat (30-50 feet), the cost will be somewhere between $2000 and $4000. It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period. Mount the masts. 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. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. Place the top of the sail in the mast track and pull on the halyard. The simple answer is to measure it. The following resources contain do-it-yourself information on upgrading and maintenance. Sailboat Rigging | MAURIPRO Sailing Too narrow for equivalent ropeshould be 10% wider than the diameter of the rope. When the rig is tuned the wires are stretched. How to Rig Your Own Boom Preventer Line - LiveAbout When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. In a tropical area, or high sunshine location, you should replace the running rigging every six to eight years. The sheave in the halyard exit box is chipped and has sharp edges. Winterization is an often-overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? Replacing the running rigging on your sailboat seems like it should be fairly simple, and a decade or two ago, it was. Every time I think Ive seen it all, my people outdo themselves and serve up the unexpected. Theres such a safety margin in rigging. 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. This produces an easy-to-handle rope that is strong and durable. For instance, Madden says, he recently had a customer whose 46-foot cutter had a rigging failure at six years. Sailboat Rigging. A lot of new boat owners overlook the maintenance costs of sailboats - and maintenance can get pricey quickly. The installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. Standing Rigging - Cable Loft They are all full re-rigs from 119 wire with new rigging screws (please note all examples given are for supply only): 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. Regardless of what fittings you currently have the choice for multi-stranded wire rigging is between swaged terminals or mechanical fittings. Both are located in the U.K., and the products are distributed in the U.S. through vendors like Hayn, West Marine, Defender, and local chandleries and riggers. The first decision is whether to tackle the job with the mast up or down. The former requires someone with a swage machine to fit terminals, the latter you can fit yourselfwith care. If you don't have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners' association. 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. Redoing the running rigging on a cruising sailboat involves measuring, measuring and measuring. Proper size and material components for the rig are further consideration. Mechanical fittings can be applied using a few common hand tools by the mechanically handy DIY sailor, which is one reason theyre popular. Today, with the advent of super-strong synthetic line such as AmSteel and Dyneema, the need for that extra wire and gear is eliminated. Most people starting out will get a smaller size boat and use it for day trips and weekend trips. Lastly, check your boom, starting with the gooseneck, mainsheet and vang fittings, where huge forces are applied when the rig is under load. 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. Replace this after pinning the shroud as it is a safety device if the main pin happens to come loose (It happens!) For my 41 feet sloop, I did most of the installation myself and paid approximately $4700 for the entire rig replacement. Most masts have integral sheaves, which are rarely serviced except when the mast is unsteppedoften only at five-year intervals. The Netherlands Guide to tackling a complete re-rig - Jimmy Green 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. The life span of rigging depends on how heavily a boat has been sailed and on the care taken with tuning. 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. 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. The boat owner or previous rigger had clearly replaced the old line without looking for the source of the chafe. Colligo Dux: A relative newcomer to sailboat rigging, Colligo Dux is pre-stretched and heat-treated Dyneema. Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. Inexpensive, double-braid Dacron is a fine choice for furling lines on most boats shorter than 40 feet. A swaged fitting is a terminus thats attached using a machine called a swager. Then we head over to Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies for a tu. 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. So here are some tips and things to look for so that you can replace your running rigging before it breaks. 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. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. [advertisement]. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. Swaging must be professionally done, and the result is extremely strong and generally has a long life. The total maintenance cost for a small daytripper will average around $1,600 per year or $133 per month. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. I am going to be getting new jib sheets with will be 7/16" for ease of handling. Cleat the jib off on the port side of the mast and the main on the starboard. Sun wear and constant use will wear down the sails and rigging even more. A dormant maneuver has both ends fixed at each end. Since each one is 34' and then add another 6-10 to be safe? 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. Check the deck around the chainplates and mast for cracking and delamination. 3. You can see the difference between the old line on the right and the new line on the left. How do you know when its time to re-rig? Rig inspections, rig replacement and rig upgrades is how we can help. One part of sailboats and yachts that must be inspected, maintained, or even replaced when necessary is the standing rigging. Replacing Running Rigging | SailNet Community Inspect any integral reefing sheaves or bearing wear or UV degradation. To avoid excessive wear, make sure your halyard sheaves are the proper type for whatever line you select. I'll explain each line item in detail later on. Fisheries Supply is your premier supplier of sailing and rigging rope from top brands like Samson, Marlow, Robline and New England Rope. 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. 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. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. 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. You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime. 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. 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. The total maintenance cost on a tight budget can get as low as $275 per year, or $23 per month. Sailboat Running Rigging You don't want to have faulty sailboat running rigging. The standing rigging consists of wires supporting the mast on a sailboat and reinforcing the spars from the force of the sails when sailing. 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. Sasker van Heringawei 16E WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. 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. This line wont last long in these conditions. Its imported and sold through distributors like Alps Wire Rope. Pip Hare explains when to check and replace your standing rigging With all of these factors in mind, what can you expect to pay for standing rigging replacement? The reason it is a scheduled item is that a visual inspection prolly won't detect defects. If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists, definitely check out my article here. [1] 26' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $1,000 - $2,500. Most recent receipt was for lower stays 10 years ago. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com 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. The wire itself rarely fails midway along a shroud, so this makes good sense. 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. Master The Running Rigging On A Sailboat: Illustrated Guide First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). SKIRMISH was a 32-footer carrying an Aboriginal motif on her bows, recalling Skirmish Point, where Flinders landed and encountered the local Aboriginal community. My belief is that you should be replacing your sailboats standing rigging every 10 to 15 years. But this time frame also is variable, depending on the boats purpose and use. How much does it cost to replace running rigging? Average Sailboat Maintenance Costs (with 4 Examples) Good question. Use nylon 3-Strand for anchor, dock, mooring and tow lines or polyester 3-strand for running rigging on traditional cruising boats. Copyright 2023 Cruising World. But you know what is more expensive? Not all maintenance is as important. The most common location of chainplate failure is where one disappears into the deck and cant be inspected. Whether you are setting up the hardware for a trapeze or trying to create the perfect mast rake before a big race with your tension guage, we at MAURIPRO Sailing will meet your Rigging needs. 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. 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. Plus, this line won't harden with age. Get all your parts together. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. Usually the owner's manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. If the wire in a stay or shroud has stretched to the point where theres no room for further adjustment, make sure you compensate for this when replacing the wire so that at least one-third of the turnbuckle body is open to accommodate adjustments when the rig is fully tensioned. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. The running rigging consists of the halyards, sheets . Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your running rigging. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. Although rod rigging is more common on racing boats, many well-known cruising-boat builders, such as Valiant, Bristol, J/Boats and Hinckley, have rod-rigged models. 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. Likewise, if you already have wire with fittings that accommodate your boat and mast, stick with wire. 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+. When we talk about sailboat rigging, we mean all the wires, ropes and lines that support the rig and control the sails. Tartan 30 - Sailing 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. JavaScript is disabled. Most of my clients say to me without any prompting, This is one area I feel should be done by a professional, Madden says. Let me explain. The easiest way to prevent line from chafing all the way through is to simply look at your line. Inspect the area around tang plates and toggle fittings for cracks, preferably using a magnifying glass. The warm trade winds in the West Indies were calling; time to go sailing. The idea is you come on deck with this small canvas bag and make it happen, Cockerill says. Let them know any of your concerns before they get started. Listing Results for Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Fitting a Roller Furling Line - Practical Sailor Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two). Chafe occurs when line rubs against a sharp or rough surface. Rigging is a significant part of building a model ship. By taking on the labor yourself, youll probably save as much as $2,000 on the re-rigging cost, he says. 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 save you from surprises, here's a full overview of costs you can expect when owning a sailboat. Sailing Ropes Guide | Cruising World I'm the owner of ImproveSailing. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . 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 running rigging consists of all the lines, sheets, and so on that is used to haul and operate the sails. 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. All this small hardware needs to be replaced every 20-30 years and will amount to about $1,500. But not just any kind of sailing. Your sail area will most likely also be larger, which means your sail replacement will be more expensive. 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. Look for cracks, corrosion and worn clevis pins or shackles, removing any tape and replacing cotter pins and split rings where necessary. Labor total: $1,000 on average Many boat owners are reluctant to replace their running rigging, and for good reason, it can be expensive! This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. Thus the standing rigging is made up of all the cables and . Replacing Running Rigging on an Older Sailboat If you're thinking of buying a used sailboat it's probable that your final selection will be a boat that is a few years old - and the halyards, mainsheet, backstay, jibsheets and other running rigging will probably look a little old, dirty and frayed. and about a 200 anchor .line. Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. Enough tape to cover a cotter pin suffices; otherwise, leave the metal open to the air. Most racers that use stripped cover halyards are diligent about inspecting these lines and some even replace them every season. If your running rigging has seen better days, now might be the time to replace it. A boat spending most of the last 10 years on a trailer with the mast in a cradle has only corrosion to consider. The biggest thing we like to have is the history of the boat: what kind of boat it is, how its been sailed and where has it been sailed, says Jay Herman, owner of Annapolis Rigging. Rigging Your Cruising Sailboat Yourself - Sailing Eurybia From canvas and cushions to rigging and hardware by top suppliers like Lewmar, Schaefer, Gray, Ronstan, and more. 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). Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. Remove old lifelines and frayed running rigging. The short answer is, lithium batteries perform better and last longer than many lead-acid batteries. There are other wires out there that are cheaper, but theyre not guaranteed.. 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. Their solidworks simulations revealed the rigging was on the lighter side. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2" nylon: 25' bow, 15' stern, and 20' spring. Your engine will wear out faster, and you'll need more incidental repairs as well. . 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.