Also look to see if there are any broken wires where the shroud enters the terminal. Gas engine will last a lot less long than diesels. Check by sighting up the backside of the mast to see how straight your spar is side to side. Do this by placing a wrap of tape 3 up from the upper chainplate pin hole on each upper shroud. You want a reliable boat, which means you'll fix anything that needs fixing immediately. Having to hire a rigger to climb your mast to run a new halyard after the old one breaks. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. 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 the leeward shroud flops around underway, the constant flexing will weaken the metal over time and make it more prone to fail. and about a 200' " anchor .line. If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists, definitely check out my article here. Sailboat rigging very rarely fails from being overloaded. Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. The typical sheets for a low-tech, limited budget sailer is single braid Dacron. As you can see, most of these costs are longterm recurring maintenance costs. Colligo Dux: A relative newcomer to sailboat rigging, Colligo Dux is pre-stretched and heat-treated Dyneema. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. It sounds to me that the question is when, not if you will go for new rigging. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. The bottom of the top half just slides into the top of the bottom half. If you want a life raft, that's another $1,500. However, what you'll actually pay really depends on the type of boat you have and what you do with it. 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. A running manoeuvre has a free end that can be acted upon. When youre happy everything is in place, its time to tune your rig. Then we head over to Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies for a tu. 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. 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. If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. 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? Sometimes it can be very obvious, but other times it is not. Leave each line with extra length, and coil the lines up. Keep your sailboats mast securely in place by carefully inspecting all of your spars components and replacing parts before you have a breakdown. This was seen on a brand new boat at the 2020 Seattle Boat Show. Replace this after pinning the shroud as it is a safety device if the main pin happens to come loose (It happens!) One part of sailboats and yachts that must be inspected, maintained, or even replaced when necessary is the standing rigging. I'm on Lake Michigan. 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. Note wire and pin diameters and measure the wires as accurately as possible between pin centers with the rig fully tensioned. On a sailboat, a distinction is made between running rigging and standing rigging. 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. Look for cracks, corrosion and worn clevis pins or shackles, removing any tape and replacing cotter pins and split rings where necessary. This could be a marine eye, a marine fork, a T-head or a J-hook, among others. Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so. A Bonnier LLC Company. Polyester double braid works great for frequently adjusted lines, like main and jib sheets, or moderately loaded control lines. 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. Contact us The total maintenance cost for a small daytripper will average around $1,600 per year or $133 per month. 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. I use a 3D model and some diagrams. The worst-case scenario, of course, is that the chainplates pull right out of the deck, with catastrophic consequences. Theres no real way of measuring that. The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. Small dents in either the mast or the boom are often hotspots for failure, as they weaken the form of the spar. Your engine will wear out faster, and you'll need more incidental repairs as well. The diameter of the sheets and halyards will depend on what fits the blocks that you have. The three most commonly used types of attachments are swaged and mechanical fittings for wire, and cold heads for rod. Do you hire a pro or go it alone? Double braid lines are used in running rigging and dock . 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. Below, I'll go over four different situations and explain what type of maintenance you'll most likely will and won't do, and what the price tag is for each situation. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com Mount the masts. A swaged fitting is a terminus thats attached using a machine called a swager. So here are some tips and things to look for so that you can replace your running rigging before it breaks. The easiest place to work on your rig is on the ground. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. Where you can really save some money, is on the labor. To avoid excessive wear, make sure your halyard sheaves are the proper type for whatever line you select. The latter may indicate two things: one, that its simply surface rust, which you should be able to polish off, or two, that as the wire was being manufactured, a strand might have picked up some contamination during the process and is compromised, which is cause for concern. The owner didnt adjust the rigging to compensate for the stretch for several seasons. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. 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). 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. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . 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. We're looking for writers! This is a very serious problem for the average sailor. 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. 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. It has a synthetic stay with an eye splice, a toolless turnbuckle (the Handy Lock, made by C. Sherman Johnson), quick-release fast pins with an attached lanyard, several high-strength Dyneema loops, and even a heavy-duty zip tie to fish loops in and out of holes in a mast. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. Gas engines run for about 1,500 hours, diesel engines run for 5,000. What kind of end fittings? 0 www.rigbos.com. How the rigging has been tuned is also part of a boats story. That history will affect what kind of life you get out of your standing rigging. Some insurance companies, he says, will require a re-rig if youre purchasing a used boat that has standing rigging older than 15 years. Hardwood would be best but we used epoxied plywood and it was adequate. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing Its best to slacken them off, giving them a few turns each way and removing any clevis pins for close inspection before re-tensioning the shroud or stay and then locking it off with new split rings or cotter pins. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. 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). 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). Although anyone can walk into a local chandlery and buy wire, that doesnt mean the wire is of the highest quality. A boat spending most of the last 10 years on a trailer with the mast in a cradle has only corrosion to consider. Inspect the area around tang plates and toggle fittings for cracks, preferably using a magnifying glass. Replacing electronics won't be very important - however, your batteries will need to be replaced more often. I've read that standing rigging should be replaced anywhere from 10 all the way up to 20 years and also simply based on condition. The average annual maintenance cost of sailboats is between $2,000 - $3,000. Marlow Ropes in the UK produce Marlowbraid. Batteries have a limited number of charge cycles. Did you know that rope halyards are easier to handle and significantly lighter than wire halyards. 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 cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. Preparing The Boat For Rigging. 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. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. 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. Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. The following resources contain do-it-yourself information on upgrading and maintenance. One of the most common areas of rig failure is where the shrouds terminateboth at the mast tang or socket fitting and the wire terminal, toggle or T-ball. 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. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. 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. if it were wire you could get away for about half that price. The only thing we can really do is regularly inspect lines to look for wear. Free shipping on $90+! The most common location of chainplate failure is where one disappears into the deck and cant be inspected. What is the average sailboat maintenance cost? The next area deserving close scrutiny is the spreaders. Winter storms and ice can damage the hull and mast as well. 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. Our sailboat running rigging includes sailboat mainsheets, sailboat halyards, and all major sailboat lines. 1. They are all full re-rigs from 119 wire with new rigging screws (please note all examples given are for supply only): I ended up just replacing all of the standing rigging through rigginonly.com in Fairhaven Ma. To save you from surprises, here's a full overview of costs you can expect when owning a sailboat. Masthead sloop, single spreader, 2 cap shrouds, 4 lowers, r/r forestay, single backstay. Sun wear and constant use will wear down the sails and rigging even more. Let them know any of your concerns before they get started. 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. 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. Personally, Im in favor of it, but if you replace the standing rigging frequentlyevery 10 years, saythen it might not be necessary. Probably the trickiest will be the forestay and backstay, as these carry the greatest loads, although all the standing rigging can be loosened to some degree when at rest. Start by digging out the bosuns chair and finding a trusted (and hopefully fit) buddy to help you. 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. Most people starting out will get a smaller size boat and use it for day trips and weekend trips. Copyright 2023 Cruising World. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. Dont forget the turnbuckles and chain plates. In the past, long-distance cruisers typically chose wire rigging with mechanical fittings for all of these reasons. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. Sailboat Running Rigging You don't want to have faulty sailboat running rigging. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2" nylon: 25' bow, 15' stern, and 20' spring. 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. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. At minimal cost you can rig a permanent preventer that is easy to use, is fully adjustable, and does not require going forward on deck. Many boat owners are reluctant to replace their running rigging, and for good reason, it can be expensive! Do disconnect them and inspect them very carefully for cracks on a well-lit workbench. All this small hardware needs to be replaced every 20-30 years and will amount to about $1,500. I found some tests that some SBO folks had done many years ago on the O'Day 25's standing rigging. You can take a masthead halyard from side to side to ensure that the masthead is on center. Every five to six years, the mast should be pulled out of the boat so all fittings and wire or rod can be carefully inspected. For my 41 feet sloop, I did most of the installation myself and paid approximately $4700 for the entire rig replacement. The total maintenance cost on a tight budget can get as low as $275 per year, or $23 per month. Most people need 2 risers + 2 exhaust manifolds. 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. And although rod rigging may be able to last longer than wire, it too needs to be serviced every five to six years to get the most life out of it. I've read that the inner stays rarely snap. 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). Three strand is referable and less expensive than braid for dock and anchor lines also a lot easier to splice. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. For instance, the Rigging Company makes a spare-stay kit that can accommodate either wire or rod rigging repairs, Cockerill says. 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. Good question. The only thing we can really do is regularly inspect lines to look for wear. Let's go over each type and break down which costs to expect exactly. This video illustrates how to change your halyard rope in your sailboat. On modern boats, chainplates are fitted outboard (right) and covered with a plate that lets water drain. The Estimated Costs of Replacing a Jibs and Genoas Sails for boats measuring 42' to 50' can cost around $5,500-$9,000 Sails for boats measuring 36' to 42' can cost around $4,000-$7,000 Sails for boats measuring 32' to 36' can cost around $3,000-$5,000 Sails for boats measuring 24' to 32' can cost around $2,500-$4,000 Boom Vang. They might have swollen, so the new will appear to be a smaller gauge. This is some excellent information! Most recent receipt was for lower stays 10 years ago. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Inexpensive, double-braid Dacron is a fine choice for furling lines on most boats shorter than 40 feet. The interval of longterm maintenance will increase dramatically in these conditions. The average price of used sailboats is $111,000, ranging from $19,000 to $518,000. 1. rigbos.com our online store is a progression allowing us to more effisantly supply customer Members of ABYC . The customer had had the boat re-rigged, and during a trip to the BVI, the new wire stretched. If you're on a budget, you can maintain your boat reasonably well for just $1,000 / year. Generally its much better to stay with the more traditional line for the running rigging of older boats. Tag each line with a sticker noting which line it is. Another trouble spot on keel-stepped masts is where the spar enters the deck, especially if water has leaked under the mast collar. Use nylon 3-Strand for anchor, dock, mooring and tow lines or polyester 3-strand for running rigging on traditional cruising boats. It will be important to maintain a couple of parts, though: With a first boat, you most likely won't invest in new sails or the standing rigging if you don't have to. Down Haul. Its when the leeward side starts flopping around that youre asking for trouble., Stainless steel has a finite number of cycles essentially, movements, whether fore and aft or side to side. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Listing Results for Shore Support & Services, Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde For later reference, photograph each wire end, terminal and mast attachmentditto for the lower ends, turnbuckles, toggles and chainplatestaking careful note of the positions of the turnbuckles. 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. After that, you'll need to change them out. Put together both the pieces of your mast. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The condition of this halyard is likely due to UV degradation. Read more about the cost of replacing risers and manifolds here. Redoing the running rigging on a cruising sailboat involves measuring, measuring and measuring. I recently sailed on a boat that had rust around the wire/swage on all the shrouds. Youll need about 500 feet for an average 30 footer. A boat in the water is in constant motion and the rigging experiences constant micro shock loads even when sitting in the slip. The sheave in the halyard exit box is chipped and has sharp edges. By taking on the labor yourself, you'll probably save as much as $2,000 on the re-rigging cost, he says. Also, there are a lot of costs you can save on substantially if you do simple maintenance yourself or have a simple boat. 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 good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. 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. 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. I think the owner needs to replace those but there's a Covid problem. Installing the new standing rigging is simple for a trailer sailor after the mast is unstepped. This line is double braided polyester, so the cover is responsible for carrying up to 30% of the load. If your running rigging has seen better days, now might be the time to replace it. 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. 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. 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. You could be setting yourself up for some serious problems, as well a spending a lot of unnecessary money into the bargain. You cannot use a mechanical fitting on rod rigging. 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. Run the remaining standing rigging. 2. 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. We are a proud supplier of Yale Cordage. But you know what is more expensive? All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. Now is a good time to install all new cotter pins or rings to leave no doubt as to the integrity of your connections. 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. Kinks in wire is like chafe on a line. 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! 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. When we brought our Oday 25 home ,I knew judging from the lack of care the previous owner shown the rigging might also be suspect. 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. This produces an easy-to-handle rope that is strong and durable. Listing Results for Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde 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. On longer boats, you can opt for a furling-line material of more esoteric double-braids with less stretch. Account. But not just any kind of sailing. 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. In this article, we'll break down the average prices of different sailboats by type, age, condition, and size. . Some of these might not apply to your situation. First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). 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.
