The customer had had the boat re-rigged, and during a trip to the BVI, the new wire stretched. 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. 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. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't had a trailer until last year so the mast was up through the winter. If you're hoisting the sail on land, make sure the bow of the boat is pointing towards the wind. After that, you'll need to change them out. Winterization is an often-overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime. 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. 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. The fastest route to crevice corrosion is to cover the metal with plastic or leather turnbuckle covers or to coat the fittings in tape. This line wont last long in these conditions. The mast stayed up, but it sounded like a gun shot and was scary as hell. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. The average price of a used cruising sailboat is between $10,000 and $100,000. 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. On longer boats, you can opt for a furling-line material of more esoteric double-braids with less stretch. [1] 2. If youre thinking of buying a used sailboat its 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. 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. Sometimes it can be very obvious, but other times it is not. If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000. A boat spending most of the last 10 years on a trailer with the mast in a cradle has only corrosion to consider. splicing any of these high tech lines is not for the faint hearted. and about a 200' " anchor .line. The short answer is, lithium batteries perform better and last longer than many lead-acid batteries. 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. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. 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. 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. Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. Start at the bottom, working your way up from the lowers, to the cap shrouds and finally the stays. The interval of longterm maintenance will increase dramatically in these conditions. When youre happy everything is in place, its time to tune your rig. That said, some sailors prefer wire over rod for a number of reasons. It is very flexible and easy to handle, and is still the line of choice for most applications on cruisers and club racers. I agree with a general average of 20 years for replacing the standing rigging. Our selection runs the gamut, from economical polyester single- and double-braids to high-tech, low-stretch line made from materials such as Dyneema, Spectra, Technora, Kevlar and Vectran. Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. This is some excellent information! Your sail area will most likely also be larger, which means your sail replacement will be more expensive. 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. The total maintenance cost for a bluewater cruiser will average around $3,225 per year or $269 per month. Any requirement to re-tune the rig more often than that would point to wires been stretched beyond their tensile strength minimums. A running manoeuvre has a free end that can be acted upon. 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. Running rigging The running rigging consists of all the lines, sheets, and so on that is used to haul and operate the sails. If you go DIY, you will be limited to mechanical end fittings unless you hire a rigger to swage your end fittings. For that reason, its difficult to give an accurate estimate of the cost of making the switch, even for an average 40-footer. Personally, Im in favor of it, but if you replace the standing rigging frequentlyevery 10 years, saythen it might not be necessary. 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. Headed by Dona Bertarelli, the Spindrift team has been on a mission to set a read more, In some stunning footage from onboard reporter Antoine Auriol, Boris Herrmann and his team aboard Malizia decided to cut their Code 0 free after it came loose and got tangled in the keel last night. 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. Thus the standing rigging is made up of all the cables and . A forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. How do you know when its time to re-rig? In a tropical area, or high sunshine location, you should replace the running rigging every six to eight years. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. Although the hull actually read more, It was March, and Id made it through another Maine winter. The Rigging Company gears much of its sales to DIY sailors and is beginning an e-commerce site to cater specifically to handy individuals. Sasker van Heringawei 16E [1] Plus, this line won't harden with age. With all of these factors in mind, what can you expect to pay for standing rigging replacement? The only thing we can really do is regularly inspect lines to look for wear. 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. 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 With a spare mechanical end fitting, wire and the proper tools, you can replace a stay pretty much anywhere. I push the boat hard whenever conditions allow and am always a bit leery of its old rigging. Consider this a half inch diameter Samson Tech-12 (12 Strand Technora) line has an average breaking load of 33,000 pounds. You mean all together don't you? But Malizia is far from the only team struggling to keep their boat in good read more, Get your ground tackle setup right, and youll sleep much easier while youre cruising. Inexpensive, double-braid Dacron is a fine choice for furling lines on most boats shorter than 40 feet. Leave each line with extra length, and coil the lines up. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com 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. When rigging the sails of a sailboat, it is important to properly prepare the boat. Do this by placing a wrap of tape 3 up from the upper chainplate pin hole on each upper shroud. 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. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2 nylon: 25 bow, 15 stern, and 20 spring. 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. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. For those with external halyard blocks, check to make sure all lines run freely and that block bearings arent worn. Steps. Good question. The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. Most masts have integral sheaves, which are rarely serviced except when the mast is unsteppedoften only at five-year intervals. 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. Over time, the halyard still moved in the wind and the shroud chafed through the cover, exposing the core. 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). In most cases, you'll only have to replace your running rigging every 5-10 years, but it will cost you $5,000 on average. Start by digging out the bosuns chair and finding a trusted (and hopefully fit) buddy to help you. 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. 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. One part of sailboats and yachts that must be inspected, maintained, or even replaced when necessary is the standing rigging. When the rig is tuned the wires are stretched. For a 26' sailboat, that's just 500 bucks. Our sailboat running rigging includes sailboat mainsheets, sailboat halyards, and all major sailboat lines. 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 rig or rigging on a sailboat is a common term for two parts, the standing, and the running rigging. How exactly do you determine how much line you need for a given size sailboat? Let's start by getting a good overview of the different maintenance costs. On modern boats, chainplates are fitted outboard (right) and covered with a plate that lets water drain. Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years. 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. 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. Kinks in wire is like chafe on a line. Cut a square piece of wood about 3-4 on each 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. The theory is that it can take 10 to 15 years of cycling, but this continual motion when its unloaded is what fatigues the wire, Madden says. It sounds to me that the question is when, not if you will go for new rigging. Depending on the answers to those questions and others, a professionally done re-rig for a 40-footer could be closer to $6,000 or more. This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. 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. I'll agree that most of the kinks were created during stepping or prepping for storage. The average maintenance cost will be roughly $255 dollars per month for boats under 30' or just under $3,000 per year. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. Cleat the jib off on the port side of the mast and the main on the starboard. The condition of this halyard is likely due to UV degradation. 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. Tips on leading lines aft to the cockpit for single-handed sailing; Running rigging color selection, line storage, and more! Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . A lot of new boat owners overlook the maintenance costs of sailboats - and maintenance can get pricey quickly. They are all full re-rigs from 119 wire with new rigging screws (please note all examples given are for supply only): This halyard has minor chafe right now, but the chafe is acute and has an identifiable source. 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. For instance, Madden says, he recently had a customer whose 46-foot cutter had a rigging failure at six years. Deep cycle batteries (which are best for household functionality) need replacing every 4-6 years and will cost roughly $600. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. So you don't want them on there. 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. The running rigging consists of all the lines, sheets, and so on that is used to haul and operate the sails. 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. This produces an easy-to-handle rope that is strong and durable. They aren't even worn enough to require end-for ending yet. Read more on the cost of antifouling your boat. I have broken more than my share of components in newer boats while a lot less in older boats. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. No signs of corrosion or stray strands anywhere. This halyard definitely needs to be replaced. Please try again. A swaged fitting is a terminus thats attached using a machine called a swager. This was rod rigging and increased the price quite a bit. 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. Check and make sure the sheaves run freely, that the bearings are not worn oval and that the retaining pins are secure. For my 41 feet sloop, I did most of the installation myself and paid approximately $4700 for the entire rig replacement. Labor total: $1,000 on average For instance, the Rigging Company makes a spare-stay kit that can accommodate either wire or rod rigging repairs, Cockerill says. Here's a full overview of all the recurring maintenance from most to least frequent. Wire rigging is generally less expensive and easier to handle. As you can see, most of these costs are longterm recurring maintenance costs. 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. 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. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 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.