replacing running rigging on a sailboat

For my 41 feet sloop, I did most of the installation myself and paid approximately $4700 for the entire rig replacement. Its imported and sold through distributors like Alps Wire Rope. Double braid lines are used in running rigging and dock . We replaced the line AND the sheave box to ensure that the new halyard wont chafe. Deck hardware consists of the bullseyes, tiller, eye straps, cleats, and so on. 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. The golden rule has always been never to work on a rig with the boat out of the water. 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. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. SailboatOwners.com, 605 NW 53rd Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32609 It's also called antifouling paint because it helps to protect your hull from weeds, barnacles, and so on. The November 1969 Modern Boating magazine . Some have an extra light sheet for real light winds so the sheet doesnt weigh the jib down. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. A little less than the semi-circular groove on the sheave (or pulley).Generally its not strength issue for diameter but rather thick enough to be easily handled. The total maintenance cost for a bluewater cruiser will average around $3,225 per year or $269 per month. 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. For those with external halyard blocks, check to make sure all lines run freely and that block bearings arent worn. A boat in the water is in constant motion and the rigging experiences constant micro shock loads even when sitting in the slip. A standard 15HP or 20HP outboard gas engine will cost you about $5,000 - $6,000 and needs replacing every 20 years or so. The reason it is a scheduled item is that a visual inspection prolly won't detect defects. The Rigging Company gears much of its sales to DIY sailors and is beginning an e-commerce site to cater specifically to handy individuals. Gas engine will last a lot less long than diesels. Lastly, check your boom, starting with the gooseneck, mainsheet and vang fittings, where huge forces are applied when the rig is under load. 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. Saltwater is a lot more corrosive, and the stress on your rigging and sails will be higher. 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. The most common location of chainplate failure is where one disappears into the deck and cant be inspected. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. 0 www.rigbos.com. But if you want the good stuff, need more fire extinguishers, plan on spending more like $600. 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. Any requirement to re-tune the rig more often than that would point to wires been stretched beyond their tensile strength minimums. To save you from surprises, here's a full overview of costs you can expect when owning a sailboat. A dormant maneuver has both ends fixed at each end. 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. Start by digging out the bosuns chair and finding a trusted (and hopefully fit) buddy to help you. (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.). 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 . Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. It is very flexible and easy to handle, and is still the line of choice for most applications on cruisers and club racers. JavaScript is disabled. Let me explain. 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. 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. From canvas and cushions to rigging and hardware by top suppliers like Lewmar, Schaefer, Gray, Ronstan, and more. Down Haul. First, check for cracks (usually longitudinal), particularly if the terminal looks misshapen or the stay is misaligned in any way. If you're on a budget, you can maintain your boat reasonably well for just $1,000 / year. Dear improvesailing.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-supported by facts and figures. Standing rigging are the cables that support the mast. SKIRMISH was a 32-footer carrying an Aboriginal motif on her bows, recalling Skirmish Point, where Flinders landed and encountered the local Aboriginal community. The average price of a used cruising sailboat is between $10,000 and $100,000. Of course, if you have an outboard engine the installation price will be nothing more than a few drops of sweat, swearing, and back pain for a day or two. 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. The three most commonly used types of attachments are swaged and mechanical fittings for wire, and cold heads for rod. Included are halyards, main sheet, headsail sheets, and topping lift. Read more on boat engine replacement costs here. Failing to winterize it will increase your maintenance cost over time, as the engine wears out more quickly, and your plumbing and equipment will fall apart. Replacing your old worn out or damaged standing rigging is a crucial requirement to insure your safety and the safety of others. One advantage is that you might not need to winterize if you're a fulltime cruiser since you'll probably spend your winters in Bermuda. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. It is comprised of fixed lines, wires, or rods that are designed to support each mast or bowsprit on sailing vessels. Running Rigging & Cordage to Order . Place the top of the sail in the mast track and pull on the halyard. If your boat is in a full cradle, however, this shouldnt be an issue. Theres no real way of measuring that. There are some question as to whether or not you should replace your turnbuckles along with the wire. Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! On longer boats, you can opt for a furling-line material of more esoteric double-braids with less stretch. 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. 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. If your running rigging has seen better days, now might be the time to replace it. Gas engines run for about 1,500 hours, diesel engines run for 5,000. You can't eliminate all risk on a sailboat and how to make that call will be different bassed on an individual's risk tollerance. The average price of new sailboats is $250,000, ranging from $96,000 to $654,000. FWIW, I just replaced all my running rigging on my 30' with 3/8" Sta-Set for thr halyards and 3/8" XLE for topping lift and downhaul, the halyard were wire-rope but now all rope. So I've added it to the "be aware this might happen" list - but won't add it to the monthly recurring costs. I just replaced all the rope running rigging on a Catalina 27 for about $300. 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. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. Replacing the mast is uncommon, but if you're unlucky and get demasted, it will need to be fixed. Chafe usually happens gradually over long periods of time and it is only a serious problem when it goes unnoticed. Overall, this halyard looked relatively new compared to some of the other lines on this boat, and this sheave probably caused the demise of the previous halyard. If you use your batteries extensively, they will most likely need replacing after 3-4 years, for example, for liveaboards or full-time cruisers. Put together both the pieces of your mast. 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. These boats have less moving parts and less critical parts. When youre happy everything is in place, its time to tune your rig. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. For dry storage, part of the process can be to shrink wrap your boat. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. Read more on the average cost to replace a boat starter here. First, its easier to fix in remote places and on your own. If you follow directions, they are fairly straightforward to install, although not especially easy. This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. 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. Marine-suitable stainless wire is called 316 grade, but even that doesnt mean youre necessarily getting high-quality wire. When rigging the sails of a sailboat, it is important to properly prepare the boat. But Marissa and Chris Neely on Avocet saw a weather window and jumped, making their first big offshore passage the wrong way from Santa Barbara to San Francisco and loving itmostly. The easiest place to work on your rig is on the ground. You can see the difference between the old line on the right and the new line on the left. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. Ensure you keep hold of the standing end so it doesn't disappear to the top of the mast. Money well spent. 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. Lets say you ripped a tang out of the mast; you can use a Dyneema loop to create another attachment point. There is no hard and fast rule for when to replace your running rigging. Dyneema is especially susceptible to UV degradation. Then we head over to Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies for a tu. The new Dufour 37 slots in just above the 32-foot baby of the family, and it replaces the previous Dufour 360 from three years ago. One part of sailboats and yachts that must be inspected, maintained, or even replaced when necessary is the standing rigging. In marine environments, everything can go wrong exactly one time for it to be critical. [advertisement] Take this opportunity to check out your spars as well. 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. The interval of longterm maintenance will increase dramatically in these conditions. Too narrow for equivalent ropeshould be 10% wider than the diameter of the rope. USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly. This way you can cut the wire roughly to length and have a rigger swage the tops, fit them in place yourself and terminate the lower ends to suit. Theres such a safety margin in rigging. Perhaps a rogue cotter pin sticking out of a turnbuckle. 3. The fastest route to crevice corrosion is to cover the metal with plastic or leather turnbuckle covers or to coat the fittings in tape. The total maintenance cost on a tight budget can get as low as $275 per year, or $23 per month. Strong, durable lines are essential for controlling the sails on your boat without risking your own safety, or that of the sails. You can also use sacrificial covers to protect halyards from clutch damage,. Inboard engine (and generator) starters cost from $40 - over $1,000 depending on the engine. In this article, we'll break down the average prices of different sailboats by type, age, condition, and size. Make Wire cutting Jig. A boat spending most of the last 10 years on a trailer with the mast in a cradle has only corrosion to consider. Do disconnect them and inspect them very carefully for cracks on a well-lit workbench. If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000. 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. Likewise, if you already have wire with fittings that accommodate your boat and mast, stick with wire. A swaged fitting is a terminus thats attached using a machine called a swager. Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. Sta-Set X is an ideal. You cannot use a mechanical fitting on rod rigging. 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%. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. On sailboats, however, there aren't a lot of non-essential parts. Please try again. Modelers Central guide you through the importance it adds to the beauty of your finished model. The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. 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. 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. 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. Do a few turns on one side before going to the other and applying an equal number. Most people starting out will get a smaller size boat and use it for day trips and weekend trips. Spreader tips that are covered can often encourage and hide corrosion as they can trap water and reduce air flow over stainless steel fittings, causing them to corrode. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more! When the rig is tuned the wires are stretched. 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. Mount the masts. 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. This was rod rigging and increased the price quite a bit. The Down Haul consists of a line attached to the mast end of the boom. This could be a marine eye, a marine fork, a T-head or a J-hook, among others. If you're hoisting the sail on land, make sure the bow of the boat is pointing towards the wind. The first decision is whether to tackle the job with the mast up or down. You can take a masthead halyard from side to side to ensure that the masthead is on center. Most of my clients say to me without any prompting, This is one area I feel should be done by a professional, Madden says. If the baseplates, for example, are leaking, water will penetrate the deck, making the surrounding deck core mushy and weak (if a core exists) and possibly compromising supporting bulkheads and structures belowdecks. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. This line wont last long in these conditions. Inevitably. 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. Allow at least a foot for each splice or knot. The number one destroyer of line is chafe. Installing the new standing rigging is simple for a trailer sailor after the mast is unstepped. Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. Step 1 - Hire a professional rigger with a good reputation to do a thorough survey of your standing AND running rigging. As with electronics, safety gear, and even sails, technology has significantly improved cordage. 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. Most recent receipt was for lower stays 10 years ago. Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. A good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. Now is a good time to install all new cotter pins or rings to leave no doubt as to the integrity of your connections. A good boat supply store will be able to help. and about a 200' " anchor .line. This is a perfect example to illustrate why a thorough, yearly inspection of running rigging is important. While its often difficult to know whether, say, a swaged terminal is in good condition, there are a few common signs of possible failure to look for. Labor total: $1,000 on average If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500. All rights reserved. For all remaining running rigging, you can use polyester double-braid rope. The easiest way to prevent line from chafing all the way through is to simply look at your line. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. 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. With a spare mechanical end fitting, wire and the proper tools, you can replace a stay pretty much anywhere. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing Dont forget the turnbuckles and chain plates. Exhausted In Singapore, For All the Wrong Reasons, Cruising World Takes Multiple Honors in Annual Writing and Photography Contest. You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime. Keep the tension equal on each side by counting the turns on each turnbuckle. 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. Some of these might not apply to your situation. If you carry a life-raft you'll need to replace that every 12 years as well. The former requires someone with a swage machine to fit terminals, the latter you can fit yourselfwith care. 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. Final words Congratulations! Hardwood would be best but we used epoxied plywood and it was adequate. This was most likely caused by something sharp and pointy that poked through the cover and caught on the core. 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. Usually the owners manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. The simple answer is to measure it. Generally, end fittings fall into a few classes: studs, eyes, forks and hooks, each of which comes in a dizzying array of sizes and configurations. For that reason, its difficult to give an accurate estimate of the cost of making the switch, even for an average 40-footer. The total maintenance cost varies a lot, depending on the following factors: Still, we want a general feel of what to expect. Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years. and about a 200 anchor .line. Riggers say the question of whether to rig with wire or rod is usually fairly easily answered: Run what you brung. When we talk about sailboat rigging, we mean all the wires, ropes and lines that support the rig and control the sails. There is no hard and fast rule for "when" to replace your running rigging. Old turning blocks, padeyes, sheaves and cam cleats as well as genoa tracks and rope clutches are just not capable of handling the loads you can exert using high tech line. Sailboat Rigging. However, larger boats of 30 feet and up will cost considerably more. I actually just replaced the outer turnbuckles. Before re-tuning the rig the mast base, turnbuckles and stay fixtures should be inspect. In other words, if your boat already has rod rigging, with all of the end fittings to terminate the rods both on deck and in or on the mast, then sticking with rod will ultimately be less expensive than making the switch to wire. Double Braid: A braided core inside a braided cover. 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. On this site for example someone posted the specs for a Catalina 27 and they were bang on and agreed fully with the specs I got from the Catalina owners association. Use a low stretch Dacron such as Sta-Set-X for halyards. Get all your parts together. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. And never forget the golden rule: if in doubt, sling it out. For sheets, if you're happy with the length take the old ones off determine the gauge and and match them up. Consider this a half inch diameter Samson Tech-12 (12 Strand Technora) line has an average breaking load of 33,000 pounds. 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. The mechanical terminals most commonly used by DIY riggers are Sta-Lok and Norseman terminals. Proper size and material components for the rig are further consideration. How exactly do you determine how much line you need for a given size sailboat? They can provide a higher percentage of nominal capacity than lead-acid batteries, without shortening their life. A forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. 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. Well, for starters, I'd recommend doing most small maintenance yourself and ignore all non-essential. You mean all together don't you? For an idea of the costs involved to replace your standing rigging, here are some examples of sets of rigging we have made for customers in the past 12 months (prices as of Sept 2022). . The short answer is, lithium batteries perform better and last longer than many lead-acid batteries. On a sailboat, a distinction is made between running rigging and standing rigging. You should be able to get the specs off the internet. 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. Note wire and pin diameters and measure the wires as accurately as possible between pin centers with the rig fully tensioned. I use a 3D model and some diagrams. I used the Sta-Set solid color line to easily identify the lines. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. Copyright 2023 Cruising World. The running rigging consists of all the lines, sheets, and so on that is used to haul and operate the sails. On this page you will find both rigging hardware and rigging tools. A lot of new boat owners overlook the maintenance costs of sailboats - and maintenance can get pricey quickly. 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. To be more precise, the highly tensioned stays and shrouds that support the mast are known collectively as standing rigging, whilst the rope halyards, sheets and other control lines come under the heading of running rigging. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. All this small hardware needs to be replaced every 20-30 years and will amount to about $1,500. 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. This halyard definitely needs to be replaced. If you dont have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners association. 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+. What kind of end fittings? That said, some sailors prefer wire over rod for a number of reasons. Although the hull actually read more, It was March, and Id made it through another Maine winter. Marine sailboat supplier of running rigging - halyards, dock lines and halyar=ds shackles. 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. Marlow Ropes in the UK produce Marlowbraid. Personally, Im in favor of it, but if you replace the standing rigging frequentlyevery 10 years, saythen it might not be necessary. The bottom of the top half just slides into the top of the bottom half. Just a FYI. Skilled marine technicians charge from $75 - $150 per hour. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2" nylon: 25' bow, 15' stern, and 20' spring. A boat with sound supports should not require re-tuning in less than 5 years. About us Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . Attach as many of the rigging lines as possible to the masts, booms, and gaffs. After that, you'll need to change them out. A prudent sailor should inspect his or her standing rig at least once each season and should know when the time comes to replace most or all of it. The annual maintenance cost is $2,000 - $3,000 for most boats, but the actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000. Most people need 2 risers + 2 exhaust manifolds. Now is a good time to give it a quick spray with some track lubricant as you descend. read more, 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved.

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replacing running rigging on a sailboat

replacing running rigging on a sailboat