Not all maintenance is as important. Tensioning them will be done later in the rigging sequence. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. When rigging the sails of a sailboat, it is important to properly prepare the boat. and about a 200 anchor .line. Regardless of what fittings you currently have the choice for multi-stranded wire rigging is between swaged terminals or mechanical fittings. A good boat supply store will be able to help. I recently sailed on a boat that had rust around the wire/swage on all the shrouds. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. I used the Sta-Set solid color line to easily identify the lines. With the tension off its a lot easier to waggle the terminal around and check closely for cracks, wear, distortion or corrosion. The average cost of a new cruising sailboat is about $250,000. 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. 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 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. The total maintenance cost for a liveaboard will average around $1,550 per year or $129 per month. [advertisement]. NEW FLAT SCREEN 36" TV IN THE V-BERTH - 2019 Replace Running Rigging, Lifelines and Engine Repairs 3/2018. The short answer is, lithium batteries perform better and last longer than many lead-acid batteries. We offer a full range of sailing lines to replace any or all the running rigging on your boat such as halyards, sailboat sheets or control lines. 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. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. The sails, rigging, and engine will be less critical if you won't take her out very often. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. If your running rigging has seen better days, now might be the time to replace it. The breaking strength of this line is now significantly reduced. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. The simple answer is to measure it. Does that mean that replacement time for those is longer? Ensure you keep hold of the standing end so it doesn't disappear to the top of the mast. I have broken more than my share of components in newer boats while a lot less in older boats. I'll explain each line item in detail later on. . The easiest way to prevent line from chafing all the way through is to simply look at your line. The typical sheets for a low-tech, limited budget sailer is single braid Dacron. I cant understand why they wanted 75 feet for the main as I still have 25-30 feet even when the main sheet is eased all the way. 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. 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. Are the chainplates sound? Check and make sure the sheaves run freely, that the bearings are not worn oval and that the retaining pins are secure. Tips on leading lines aft to the cockpit for single-handed sailing; Running rigging color selection, line storage, and more! Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two). Sun wear and constant use will wear down the sails and rigging even more. Swaging is a strong and durable way to attach end fittings to wire rigging. On average, it costs about $15 to $20 per foot to get your sailboat hull painted professionally. This halyard has minor chafe right now, but the chafe is acute and has an identifiable source. One thing all the riggers I spoke with expressed emphatically was that stainless steel needs oxygen to create a fine film of oxidation that protects the metal. 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. In marine environments, everything can go wrong exactly one time for it to be critical. read more, 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. So youre sailing offshore and youre looking at the windward shroud thats taut, and thats not the one to worry about. 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. Top manufacturers of swaged fittings are Hayn Marine Rigging Products, Alexander Roberts and C. Sherman Johnson. Generally, they consist of either three or four parts (Sta-Lok has three; Hi-MOD has four), including a sleeve; a cone; in Hi-MODs case, a crown wheel; and the terminal (an eye, fork, stud, etc.). 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. This was most likely caused by something sharp and pointy that poked through the cover and caught on the core. Maybe dying or some other high tech test would. First, check for cracks (usually longitudinal), particularly if the terminal looks misshapen or the stay is misaligned in any way. I am going to be getting new jib sheets with will be 7/16" for ease of handling. 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. Just because a line or even the whole boat is new, doesnt mean there isnt something wrong with the running rigging. 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. You want a reliable boat, which means you'll fix anything that needs fixing immediately. If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000. 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. And if your boat is in the the Seattle area, wed love to come take a look at your running rigging. Get all your parts together. 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. Its imported and sold through distributors like Alps Wire Rope. Saltwater is a lot more corrosive, and the stress on your rigging and sails will be higher. As you can see, most of these costs are longterm recurring maintenance costs. If in doubt, get a professional opinion. The average annual maintenance cost of sailboats is between $2,000 - $3,000. 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. and about a 200' " anchor .line. Our sailboat running rigging includes sailboat mainsheets, sailboat halyards, and all major sailboat lines. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. 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. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. On our old boat we had the Port Aft lower shroud fail while sailing. It will always be a judgment call. On this page you will find both rigging hardware and rigging tools. 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. The screw threads and locking nuts need regular cleaning and some light greasing to prevent corrosion. Standing rigging are the cables that support the mast. 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. There is minor chafe on all sides of the line and along the entire length. Researchers have announced the discovery of the wreck of the schooner barge Ironton in Lake Huron, sitting upright with masts and rigging still intact and with the lifeboat that could have saved her crew still lashed to the ships stern. SailboatOwners.com, 605 NW 53rd Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32609 The first decision is whether to tackle the job with the mast up or down. 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. That cost me $10k. If the leeward shroud flops around underway, the constant flexing will weaken the metal over time and make it more prone to fail. . Liveaboards that don't really sail that much have less maintenance to do in one way, and more in another. Since each one is 34' and then add another 6-10 to be safe? 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. If your boat is in a full cradle, however, this shouldnt be an issue. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Most racers that use stripped cover halyards are diligent about inspecting these lines and some even replace them every season. Their solidworks simulations revealed the rigging was on the lighter side. For all of these reasons, most riggers agree that when your sailboats standing rigging approaches 15 years old, its a good time to consider replacing it. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Riggers say the question of whether to rig with wire or rod is usually fairly easily answered: Run what you brung. This was seen on a brand new boat at the 2020 Seattle Boat Show. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. When inspecting your rig you should also make an inventory of all its parts and their dimensions. 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. How much does a used sail cost? Sometimes it can be very obvious, but other times it is not. Start at the bottom, working your way up from the lowers, to the cap shrouds and finally the stays. If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists, definitely check out my article here. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. This is a very serious problem for the average sailor. Your engine will wear out faster, and you'll need more incidental repairs as well. They are all full re-rigs from 119 wire with new rigging screws (please note all examples given are for supply only): A forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Have a feel for any rough or sharp edges, especially cotter pin ends that might chafe lines or sails. 9034 GD Marsum For instance, Madden says, he recently had a customer whose 46-foot cutter had a rigging failure at six years. The customer had had the boat re-rigged, and during a trip to the BVI, the new wire stretched. Free shipping on $90+! A dormant maneuver has both ends fixed at each end. Sailboat rigging very rarely fails from being overloaded. 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. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. This process . To save you from surprises, here's a full overview of costs you can expect when owning a sailboat. 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! There are some obvious answers to this one for instance, if your wire rigging has broken strands or if its suffering from candy-striping, i.e., rust-colored streaks swirling down the wire. Use a low stretch Dacron such as Sta-Set-X for halyards. It's a really helpful post (with a formula) if you want to know what to expect. 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. 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. I live in Friesland, The Netherlands, which is famous for its great lakes and lots of sailing opportunities. 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. 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 most important determinant would be the boat's use; a boat used for racing or offshore cruising would require the wires to be inspected and replace more often. Please try again. About us Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! Did you find the answer to your specific question? Now, this is expensive, and it is hard on the environment. 2. Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. 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. 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. You should be able to get the specs off the internet. Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. Cleat the jib off on the port side of the mast and the main on the starboard. 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. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. Why do you want to suddenly replace all your 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. For instance, the Rigging Company makes a spare-stay kit that can accommodate either wire or rod rigging repairs, Cockerill says. First, its easier to fix in remote places and on your own. We are a proud supplier of Yale Cordage. Wendy Mitman Clarke is currently between passages. If you carry a life-raft you'll need to replace that every 12 years as well. Replacing electronics won't be very important - however, your batteries will need to be replaced more often. They can provide a higher percentage of nominal capacity than lead-acid batteries, without shortening their life. Add winches and UV rays and the wear and tear can be significant so it's important to use a quality line. For dry storage, part of the process can be to shrink wrap your boat. Over time, the halyard still moved in the wind and the shroud chafed through the cover, exposing the core. Final words Congratulations! Boom Vang. Replace this after pinning the shroud as it is a safety device if the main pin happens to come loose (It happens!) 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%. The standing rigging consists of wires supporting the mast on a sailboat and reinforcing the spars from the force of the sails when sailing. 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. Run the remaining standing rigging. 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). A swaged fitting is a terminus thats attached using a machine called a swager. The November 1969 Modern Boating magazine . How Much Does it Cost to Dock a Boat for a Year? The cost to replace standing rigging obviously varies from boat to boat. Replacing the running rigging on your sailboat seems like it should be fairly simple, and a decade or two ago, it was. 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 . 0 www.rigbos.com. On a sailboat, a distinction is made between running rigging and standing rigging. A good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. Well, for starters, I'd recommend doing most small maintenance yourself and ignore all non-essential. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. I actually just replaced the outer turnbuckles. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. Any requirement to re-tune the rig more often than that would point to wires been stretched beyond their tensile strength minimums. They weigh less and take up less room. Although anyone can walk into a local chandlery and buy wire, that doesnt mean the wire is of the highest quality. 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. There are some question as to whether or not you should replace your turnbuckles along with the wire. Here's the average cost to shrink wrap a boat. From canvas and cushions to rigging and hardware by top suppliers like Lewmar, Schaefer, Gray, Ronstan, and more. 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. if it were wire you could get away for about half that price. Most insurance companies reckon you should replace your standing rigging about every 10 years. 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). There are also a few spots where the chafe is more serious. I'll also inquire about upgrading to one size up. Now is a good time to give it a quick spray with some track lubricant as you descend. We only sell guaranteed-content, guaranteed-process wire, Herman says. Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so. We're looking for writers! 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. Do a few turns on one side before going to the other and applying an equal number. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat. The cost of replacing the standing rigging will vary greatly depending on the size of your boat and the location you get the job done. USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly. You can see that the chafe is only occurring on one side of the line, the side that comes in contact with the sheave. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. 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. Winter storms and ice can damage the hull and mast as well. Keep your sailboats mast securely in place by carefully inspecting all of your spars components and replacing parts before you have a breakdown. The reason it is a scheduled item is that a visual inspection prolly won't detect defects. All rod rigging terminates in a cold head, which accommodates the end fitting or is encapsulated by the end fitting. 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. 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. Rig inspections, rig replacement and rig upgrades is how we can help. Youll need about 500 feet for an average 30 footer. Adhering to the minimum safety requirements shouldn't cost you more than 150 - 250 dollars every 5 years. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. 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. Re-rigging To re-mouse the halyards, flake out the halyard, attach the working end to the mousing line that comes from the masthead, and check they are secure, before pulling back through. The condition of this halyard is likely due to UV degradation. Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. Personally, Im in favor of it, but if you replace the standing rigging frequentlyevery 10 years, saythen it might not be necessary. So I've added it to the "be aware this might happen" list - but won't add it to the monthly recurring costs. You can see the difference between the old line on the right and the new line on the left. The number one destroyer of line is chafe. The easiest place to work on your rig is on the ground. Run the shrouds and attach them to the deadeyes on the hull. This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. Read more about the cost of replacing risers and manifolds here. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. Cut a square piece of wood about 3-4 on each side. But not just any kind of sailing. This way you wont risk deforming the mast or pulling a fitting out of line. Yes, doing it yourself will theoretically save money. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. Replacement of the rigging components is more frequent and based on inspection. This could be a marine eye, a marine fork, a T-head or a J-hook, among others. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your running rigging. Let's hoist the sails and get started! That said, some sailors prefer wire over rod for a number of reasons. Do you hire a pro or go it alone? Mechanical fittings can be applied using a few common hand tools by the mechanically handy DIY sailor, which is one reason theyre popular. 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. Replacing your old worn out or damaged standing rigging is a crucial requirement to insure your safety and the safety of others. 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. 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. But if you want the good stuff, need more fire extinguishers, plan on spending more like $600. 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. This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. I'm on Lake Michigan. Look for cracks, corrosion and worn clevis pins or shackles, removing any tape and replacing cotter pins and split rings where necessary. Many boat owners are reluctant to replace their running rigging, and for good reason, it can be expensive! Also, you'll have plenty of time doing odd jobs yourself, since you'll be living on the boat. So youve determined your sailboats standing rigging needs work. You will most likely also need (or want) to replace toggles and cotter pins, even if you keep the turnbuckles. 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. Send messengers up mast for in-mast rigging - 3/2018 You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Strong, durable lines are essential for controlling the sails on your boat without risking your own safety, or that of the sails. The mechanical terminals most commonly used by DIY riggers are Sta-Lok and Norseman terminals. On top of that, maintaining your boat properly is critical. Our sailboat ropes and lines were designed to withstand any weather condition without fraying, tearing, or catching.