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. Personally, Im in favor of it, but if you replace the standing rigging frequentlyevery 10 years, saythen it might not be necessary. Listing Results for Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde It does not all wear out at the same rate. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . The wire itself rarely fails midway along a shroud, so this makes good sense. Some of these might not apply to your situation. 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. Contact us What kind of end fittings? It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period. Some have an extra light sheet for real light winds so the sheet doesnt weigh the jib down. The fastest route to crevice corrosion is to cover the metal with plastic or leather turnbuckle covers or to coat the fittings in tape. (Deck-stepped masts are less prone to corrosion as the foot of the mast is open to the air and can dry quickly.) 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. The Average Cost to Shrink Wrap a Boat (per foot), seasonal maintenance, hull, engine, rigging, don't set aside money for long-term recurring maintenance (rigging, sails, hardware, and batteries), don't outsource engine maintenance, instead do oil changes ourselves, seasonal maintenance - yearly recurring jobs. 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). 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. This is a perfect example to illustrate why a thorough, yearly inspection of running rigging is important. 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. Read more on boat engine replacement costs here. The worst-case scenario, of course, is that the chainplates pull right out of the deck, with catastrophic consequences. If you use your batteries extensively, they will most likely need replacing after 3-4 years, for example, for liveaboards or full-time cruisers. So how often should standing rigging be replaced? Do you hire a pro or go it alone? . Strong, durable lines are essential for controlling the sails on your boat without risking your own safety, or that of the sails. Allow at least a foot for each splice or knot. This halyard had been wrapped around a shroud and tightened to prevent it from slapping against the mast while at the dock. 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. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't had a trailer until last year so the mast was up through the winter. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. For a 26' sailboat, that's just 500 bucks. Well, for starters, I'd recommend doing most small maintenance yourself and ignore all non-essential. 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 . Read more on the lifetime expectancy of marine diesels here. It would help if we knew what your boat was! Read more about the cost of replacing risers and manifolds here. Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! The mast stayed up, but it sounded like a gun shot and was scary as hell. If you don't have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners' association. 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. 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. 3. To save you from surprises, here's a full overview of costs you can expect when owning a sailboat. Now, let's return to the original proposition, which was a complete replacementon three different cost levelsof basic running rigging for a 32 sloop. Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years. Every time I think Ive seen it all, my people outdo themselves and serve up the unexpected. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing The screw threads and locking nuts need regular cleaning and some light greasing to prevent corrosion. 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. With the tension off its a lot easier to waggle the terminal around and check closely for cracks, wear, distortion or corrosion. In the US, Sampson, New England Ropes and Yale all make a double braid dacron line very suitable for almost all the running rigging on an older sailboat. If you replace the rigging preventively, you should never experience the failure I did. The mechanical terminals most commonly used by DIY riggers are Sta-Lok and Norseman terminals. This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. Just because a line or even the whole boat is new, doesnt mean there isnt something wrong with the running rigging. I am going to be getting new jib sheets with will be 7/16" for ease of handling. 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. I can only assume this is due to the risk of rocking the hull off its jackstands. The next area deserving close scrutiny is the spreaders. USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly. The warm trade winds in the West Indies were calling; time to go sailing. Please try again. 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. My boat has been in fresh water all its life. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. 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. Liveaboards that don't really sail that much have less maintenance to do in one way, and more in another. How the rigging has been tuned is also part of a boats story. Leave each line with extra length, and coil the lines up. The number one destroyer of line is chafe. Your costs will range from a couple of hundred dollars for a small outboard up to over a thousand for a large or difficult to reach inboard. Preparing The Boat For Rigging. There are also a few spots where the chafe is more serious. 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. If you go DIY, you will be limited to mechanical end fittings unless you hire a rigger to swage your end fittings. You should be able to get the specs off the internet. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. The total maintenance cost for a liveaboard will average around $1,550 per year or $129 per month. The average price of new sailboats is $250,000, ranging from $96,000 to $654,000. 1. Bluey Williams's yard was a cowshed in Lawnton near the North Pine River, on the northern side of Brisbane and inland from Redcliffe. Replacing your old worn out or damaged standing rigging is a crucial requirement to insure your safety and the safety of others. Where you can really save some money, is on the labor. Proper size and material components for the rig are further consideration. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2 nylon: 25 bow, 15 stern, and 20 spring. Take a look at your mast stepparticularly if your mast is keel-stepped, as bilge water can cause serious corrosion at the foot of the mast. You mean all together don't you? Die testing wont pick it up, and its rare that a wire will give you warning before breaking.. Send messengers up mast for in-mast rigging - 3/2018 The easiest way to prevent line from chafing all the way through is to simply look at your line. They aren't even worn enough to require end-for ending yet. 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. Complete, illustrated 16 page instruction guide to get your new DragonForce 95 rigged, setup and on the water! Some boaters don't shrink wrap in the winter because of it. Generally its much better to stay with the more traditional line for the running rigging of older boats. How much does a used sail cost? I won't go into detail, but I have written an in-depth article about the cost of new sails (opens in new tab). Maybe dying or some other high tech test would. 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. If you want to go for super low stretch halyards look at Spectra but the stretch isnt much more for a lot more bucks. This one didnt. The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com Small dents in either the mast or the boom are often hotspots for failure, as they weaken the form of the spar. How do you know when its time to re-rig? Lastly, check your boom, starting with the gooseneck, mainsheet and vang fittings, where huge forces are applied when the rig is under load. 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. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. There are other wires out there that are cheaper, but theyre not guaranteed.. On a sailboat, a distinction is made between running rigging and standing rigging. The running rigging consists of the halyards, sheets . Inboard engine (and generator) starters cost from $40 - over $1,000 depending on the engine. 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. Make Wire cutting Jig. You cannot use a mechanical fitting on rod rigging. 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. Chafe occurs when line rubs against a sharp or rough surface. 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. The former need careful scrutiny and often sustain damage from misalignment. Replace this after pinning the shroud as it is a safety device if the main pin happens to come loose (It happens!) Parts total: $600 on average The standing rigging consists of wires supporting the mast on a sailboat and reinforcing the spars from the force of the sails when sailing. Most engines will last you about 20 years, depending on the amount of use and whether you use it properly. For a small boat (under 30 feet), you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $2000 for standing rigging replacement. Why do you want to suddenly replace all your running rigging? So here are some tips and things to look for so that you can replace your running rigging before it breaks. So I've added it to the "be aware this might happen" list - but won't add it to the monthly recurring costs. The interval of longterm maintenance will increase dramatically in these conditions. 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. Sailors' hands are busy with the running rigging most on a sailboat. First, check for cracks (usually longitudinal), particularly if the terminal looks misshapen or the stay is misaligned in any way. On our old boat we had the Port Aft lower shroud fail while sailing. However, what you'll actually pay really depends on the type of boat you have and what you do with it. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. Usually the owners manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. Now is a good time to install all new cotter pins or rings to leave no doubt as to the integrity of your connections. 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. A third visual indicator are cracks in swaged fittings, some of the most common end fittings for wire. If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500. Sometimes it can be very obvious, but other times it is not. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Free shipping on $90+! Replacing electronics won't be very important - however, your batteries will need to be replaced more often. The owner didnt adjust the rigging to compensate for the stretch for several seasons. Although the hull actually read more, It was March, and Id made it through another Maine winter. The total maintenance cost for a bluewater cruiser will average around $3,225 per year or $269 per month. Lets say you ripped a tang out of the mast; you can use a Dyneema loop to create another attachment point. [1] 2. This line is double braided polyester, so the cover is responsible for carrying up to 30% of the load. 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. Splices should be made by a professional, high tech line is very difficult to cut. 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. Most insurance companies reckon you should replace your standing rigging about every 10 years. On modern boats, chainplates are fitted outboard (right) and covered with a plate that lets water drain. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. Cut a square piece of wood about 3-4 on each side. Riggers say the question of whether to rig with wire or rod is usually fairly easily answered: Run what you brung. 26' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $1,000 - $2,500. Thus the standing rigging is made up of all the cables and . But Cockerill says it quickly becomes evident whether an owner feels comfortable enough to do the work. Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. Sasker van Heringawei 16E A boat with sound supports should not require re-tuning in less than 5 years. 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. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. I personally take stock of a pleasure boat's components and their age and will not load an older boat's rigging as much as I would a newer one. 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. 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. They can also crack under the constant tension, particularly if the rig has been pumping in rough seas or if the toggles that ensure proper shroud alignment have seized and cant move freely. If you dont have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners association. 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. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. But not just any kind of sailing. 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. Learn More; Reliable Standing Rigging. So youre sailing offshore and youre looking at the windward shroud thats taut, and thats not the one to worry about. Regardless of what fittings you currently have the choice for multi-stranded wire rigging is between swaged terminals or mechanical fittings. If you follow directions, they are fairly straightforward to install, although not especially easy. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. 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.). That said, some sailors prefer wire over rod for a number of reasons. The rig or rigging on a sailboat is a common term for two parts, the standing, and the running rigging. If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. 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. 9034 GD Marsum 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. For each diameter of rigging wire your boat requires drill a hole that size near the corner of the block. It will always be a judgment call. The installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. Perhaps a rogue cotter pin sticking out of a turnbuckle. Does that mean that replacement time for those is longer? Tensioning them will be done later in the rigging sequence. SKIRMISH was a 32-footer carrying an Aboriginal motif on her bows, recalling Skirmish Point, where Flinders landed and encountered the local Aboriginal community. Likewise, if you already have wire with fittings that accommodate your boat and mast, stick with wire. 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. Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. Shrouds and stays should be replaced in pairs, applying just enough tension to support the mast with you climbing it, but not tuned to sail. 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. 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. But if you want the good stuff, need more fire extinguishers, plan on spending more like $600. Rigging is a significant part of building a model ship. Then we head over to Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies for a tu. Most people starting out will get a smaller size boat and use it for day trips and weekend trips. Account. Inexpensive, double-braid Dacron is a fine choice for furling lines on most boats shorter than 40 feet. Replacing the running rigging on your sailboat seems like it should be fairly simple, and a decade or two ago, it was. Colligo Dux: A relative newcomer to sailboat rigging, Colligo Dux is pre-stretched and heat-treated Dyneema. 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. As you can see, most of these costs are longterm recurring maintenance costs. After that, you'll need to change them out. Ensure swivels are working and remove any shackles. For instance, Madden says, he recently had a customer whose 46-foot cutter had a rigging failure at six years. JavaScript is disabled. And if your boat is in the the Seattle area, wed love to come take a look at your running rigging. If you own a bluewater cruiser, your maintenance cost will go up a lot. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. If you carry a life-raft you'll need to replace that every 12 years 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. I have broken more than my share of components in newer boats while a lot less in older boats. Fisheries Supply is your premier supplier of sailing and rigging rope from top brands like Samson, Marlow, Robline and New England Rope. The customer had had the boat re-rigged, and during a trip to the BVI, the new wire stretched. Down Haul. By taking on the labor yourself, you'll probably save as much as $2,000 on the re-rigging cost, he says. In this article, we'll break down the average prices of different sailboats by type, age, condition, and size. Most people need 2 risers + 2 exhaust manifolds. I live in Friesland, The Netherlands, which is famous for its great lakes and lots of sailing opportunities. . 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. A smaller loop is a makeshift chainplate attachment you can attach it to a neighboring chainplate and attach the stay to it. splicing any of these high tech lines is not for the faint hearted. 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.