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). 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. This was seen on a brand new boat at the 2020 Seattle Boat Show. In this article, I'll show you what to expect. The average price of new sailboats is $250,000, ranging from $96,000 to $654,000. PACESHIP PY26 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com. Most recent receipt was for lower stays 10 years ago. SKIRMISH was built for Clarence Noble in Brisbane. Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so. Are the chainplates sound? How much does it cost to replace rigging on a sailboat? Sta-Set X is an ideal. Contact us How to Select Rope for Your Boat - Sailrite When inspecting your rig you should also make an inventory of all its parts and their dimensions. Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. There is no hard and fast rule for "when" to replace your running rigging. 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. Now would also be a good time to change those old cotter pins and circlip rings as well. Master The Running Rigging On A Sailboat: Illustrated Guide 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). If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. If your running rigging has seen better days, now might be the time to replace it. 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. Now is a good time to give it a quick spray with some track lubricant as you descend. Usually the owner's manual gives you the specifications of all the running and standing rigging. How do you know when its time to re-rig? Market Scan: Running Rigging - Practical Sailor If in doubt, get a professional opinion. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. Small dents in either the mast or the boom are often hotspots for failure, as they weaken the form of the spar. Included in every new DragonFlight 95 v2 kit : v2 DF95 Rigging Instructions. This is a perfect example to illustrate why a thorough, yearly inspection of running rigging is important. Remove the clevis pins at each end if you haven't already, replace the old cable with the new cable, and reinstall the clevis pins. Your sail area will most likely also be larger, which means your sail replacement will be more expensive. 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. To save you from surprises, here's a full overview of costs you can expect when owning a sailboat. Do you hire a pro or go it alone? This is the furling line for an in-mast furler. 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. A swaged fitting is a terminus thats attached using a machine called a swager. Final words Congratulations! Attach as many of the rigging lines as possible to the masts, booms, and gaffs. Tag each line with a sticker noting which line it is. Three strand is referable and less expensive than braid for dock and anchor lines also a lot easier to splice. Standing rigging supports your boat's mast. Here's a full overview of all the recurring maintenance from most to least frequent. 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. This line wont last long in these conditions. A professional needs roughly 8 hours to get the job done. Dyneema is especially susceptible to UV degradation. It requires more careful consideration of condition, usage, and inspection for signs of failure. The wire itself rarely fails midway along a shroud, so this makes good sense. Cleat the jib off on the port side of the mast and the main on the starboard. and about a 200 anchor .line. For my 41 feet sloop, I did most of the installation myself and paid approximately $4700 for the entire rig replacement. Down Haul. Let's start by getting a good overview of the different maintenance costs. We're the first and last stop for parts and accessories. 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. 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. 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. Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. The average price of a used cruising sailboat is between $10,000 and $100,000. I am going to be getting new jib sheets with will be 7/16" for ease of handling. Inspect any integral reefing sheaves or bearing wear or UV degradation. 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. Let's go over each type and break down which costs to expect exactly. Pip Hare's top tips for preventing chafe on lines, sails and hardware 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. 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. You can see that the chafe is only occurring on one side of the line, the side that comes in contact with the sheave. Double Braid: A braided core inside a braided cover. How to Replace Your Standing Rigging for Less - The $tingy Sailor Switching to Lithium Batteries on Your Boat - Power & Motoryacht Theres no reason good quality rigging shouldnt last up to 20 years or so if it is well maintained and any problems that arise are sorted right away. For sheets, if you're happy with the length take the old ones off determine the gauge and and match them up. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. Sailboat Running Rigging - velasailingsupply.com The standing rigging consists of wires supporting the mast on a sailboat and reinforcing the spars from the force of the sails when sailing. Run the remaining standing rigging. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com The average price of used sailboats is $111,000, ranging from $19,000 to $518,000. The next area deserving close scrutiny is the spreaders. The running rigging consists of the halyards, sheets . A lot of new boat owners overlook the maintenance costs of sailboats - and maintenance can get pricey quickly. Why replace sailboat running rigging? - Boat and Equipment Reviews First, check for cracks (usually longitudinal), particularly if the terminal looks misshapen or the stay is misaligned in any way. Top manufacturers of swaged fittings are Hayn Marine Rigging Products, Alexander Roberts and C. Sherman Johnson. 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. That said, it is perfectly possible, though somewhat tedious, to change shrouds and stays in pairs with the mast up by using halyards and intermediate tackles to support it. how much fuel a sailboat uses in my article, ICC (International Certificate of Competence, Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Sailboat (With 4 Examples). 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. 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. Thus the standing rigging is made up of all the cables and . 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. A rope with a Dyneema core (SK 78 or better) with a polyester cover that can be removed from the working ends would be best. The sheave in the halyard exit box is chipped and has sharp edges. Parts total: $600 on average Bluey Williams's yard was a cowshed in Lawnton near the North Pine River, on the northern side of Brisbane and inland from Redcliffe. SKIRMISH was a 32-footer carrying an Aboriginal motif on her bows, recalling Skirmish Point, where Flinders landed and encountered the local Aboriginal community. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. You will most likely also need (or want) to replace toggles and cotter pins, even if you keep the turnbuckles. How much does it cost to replace running rigging? But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat. 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. 0 www.rigbos.com. How exactly do you determine how much line you need for a given size sailboat? Complete, illustrated 16 page instruction guide to get your new DragonForce 95 rigged, setup and on the water! Labor total: $1,000 on average Included are halyards, main sheet, headsail sheets, and topping lift. The worst-case scenario, of course, is that the chainplates pull right out of the deck, with catastrophic consequences. You mean all together don't you? Hed estimate more like $4,600 for a 40-foot boat, but all of these numbers depend on how much is involved: Are there furlers? 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. For that reason, its difficult to give an accurate estimate of the cost of making the switch, even for an average 40-footer. Now is a good time to install all new cotter pins or rings to leave no doubt as to the integrity of your connections. I think another factor to consider is how much of the "life time" of the rigging was spent with the boat in the water and the mast up. Would you replace this? For each diameter of rigging wire your boat requires drill a hole that size near the corner of the block. 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. PDF Rigging Manual Rev - Club 420 But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. On sailboats, however, there aren't a lot of non-essential parts. If the wire in a stay or shroud has stretched to the point where theres no room for further adjustment, make sure you compensate for this when replacing the wire so that at least one-third of the turnbuckle body is open to accommodate adjustments when the rig is fully tensioned. Don't forget that this site will also replace your rigging. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. 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. You should be mechanically inclined, he says, and the way to find that out is if I start talking all this technical jargon and you decide whether youre suited to handle that at all.. 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. A stripped cover dyneema halyard is a great way to reduce the splice diameter and weight aloft for racers, however, they do have their downsides. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. They weigh less and take up less room. I have got quotes for sails for my 40' boat and they range from $8k for a jib and a main and I replaced the standing rigging on my boat. Winterization is an often-overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. 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.). I just replaced all the rope running rigging on a Catalina 27 for about $300. What kind of end fittings? Start by digging out the bosuns chair and finding a trusted (and hopefully fit) buddy to help you. A boat spending most of the last 10 years on a trailer with the mast in a cradle has only corrosion to consider. Your engine will wear out faster, and you'll need more incidental repairs as well. What is Sailboat Rigging? - Better Sailing Step 1 - Hire a professional rigger with a good reputation to do a thorough survey of your standing AND running rigging. The screw threads and locking nuts need regular cleaning and some light greasing to prevent corrosion. 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. When youre happy everything is in place, its time to tune your rig. My boat has been in fresh water all its life. All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. You should be able to get the specs off the internet. All this small hardware needs to be replaced every 20-30 years and will amount to about $1,500. [1] 2. Does that mean that replacement time for those is longer? 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. Standing Rigging Inspection, Maintenance and Replacement Mechanical fittings can be applied using a few common hand tools by the mechanically handy DIY sailor, which is one reason theyre popular. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. Die testing wont pick it up, and its rare that a wire will give you warning before breaking.. The Down Haul consists of a line attached to the mast end of the boom. But you should think carefully before you go ahead and buy any high tech replacement running rigging. I can only assume this is due to the risk of rocking the hull off its jackstands. When the rig is tuned the wires are stretched. If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500. 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. 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. Ive had some snafus out there to be sure, and they loom large when theyre read more, When One Wrong Makes a Right Everybody knows youre not supposed to sail up the Pacific Coast! Good question. 9034 GD Marsum Standing rigging are the cables that support the mast. First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). Cut a square piece of wood about 3-4 on each side. Before re-tuning the rig the mast base, turnbuckles and stay fixtures should be inspect. This line is double braided polyester, so the cover is responsible for carrying up to 30% of the load. Prices for new boats typically range from $100,000 to $500,000. They might have swollen, so the new will appear to be a smaller gauge. You could be setting yourself up for some serious problems, as well a spending a lot of unnecessary money into the bargain. The average cost of a new cruising sailboat is about $250,000. Well, for starters, I'd recommend doing most small maintenance yourself and ignore all non-essential. A good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. Over time, the halyard still moved in the wind and the shroud chafed through the cover, exposing the core. My belief is that you should be replacing your sailboats standing rigging every 10 to 15 years. But this time frame also is variable, depending on the boats purpose and use. 1. That's just what it is. Click here for a full walkthrough with diagrams. Batteries have a limited number of charge cycles. What would be the maintenance cost if you were on a tight budget? Regardless of what fittings you currently have the choice for multi-stranded wire rigging is between swaged terminals or mechanical fittings. We're looking for writers! USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly. Please try again. Customize your boat, or put it back in its original factory condition with parts and gear from MacgregorOwners.com. The installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. 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. On a sailboat, a distinction is made between running rigging and standing rigging. You can't eliminate all risk on a sailboat and how to make that call will be different bassed on an individual's risk tollerance. You cannot use a mechanical fitting on rod rigging. Whether you want to replace aging and questionable rigging, be able to handle a wider range of weather conditions, or add sail trimming upgrades for more speed and better pointing to windward, this ebook will show you . Marlow Ropes in the UK produce Marlowbraid. Keep the tension equal on each side by counting the turns on each turnbuckle. And if your boat is in the the Seattle area, wed love to come take a look at your running 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. Swaging is a strong and durable way to attach end fittings to wire rigging. How the rigging has been tuned is also part of a boats story. NEW FLAT SCREEN 36" TV IN THE V-BERTH - 2019 Replace Running Rigging, Lifelines and Engine Repairs 3/2018. Sailing Rope, Boat Rigging Rope & Lines | Fisheries Supply It definitely needed to be replaced. I actually just replaced the outer turnbuckles. Fisheries Supply is your premier supplier of sailing and rigging rope from top brands like Samson, Marlow, Robline and New England Rope. Write the diameter near the hole with sharpie. Let them know any of your concerns before they get started. I recently sailed on a boat that had rust around the wire/swage on all the shrouds. 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). 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? Tartan 30 - Sailing Magazine The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. As you can see, most of these costs are longterm recurring maintenance costs. Double braid lines are used in running rigging and dock . Just a FYI. The Rigging Company gears much of its sales to DIY sailors and is beginning an e-commerce site to cater specifically to handy individuals. we have provided rigging services and have specialized in running rigging. Rigging | West Marine If you go DIY, you will be limited to mechanical end fittings unless you hire a rigger to swage your end fittings. I push the boat hard whenever conditions allow and am always a bit leery of its old rigging. With the forestay removed, take the opportunity to fully service your headsail furling gear as well. 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. However, larger boats of 30 feet and up will cost considerably more. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. Most masts have integral sheaves, which are rarely serviced except when the mast is unsteppedoften only at five-year intervals. Deck hardware consists of the bullseyes, tiller, eye straps, cleats, and so on. Saltwater is a lot more corrosive, and the stress on your rigging and sails will be higher. 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. Read more on boat engine replacement costs here. Guide to tackling a complete re-rig - Jimmy Green Their solidworks simulations revealed the rigging was on the lighter side. After that, you'll need to change them out. Theres such a safety margin in rigging. Replacing the roller-furling control line is an easy do-it-yourself job for the boat owner. Remove old lifelines and frayed running rigging. 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. Installing the new standing rigging is simple for a trailer sailor after the mast is unstepped. 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. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your running rigging. Improve Sailing 14.8K subscribers In part 3 of our series on sailboat parts, we dive into two types of rigging: standing rigging and running rigging. When we talk about sailboat rigging, we mean all the wires, ropes and lines that support the rig and control the sails. Today, with the advent of super-strong synthetic line such as AmSteel and Dyneema, the need for that extra wire and gear is eliminated. Check by sighting up the backside of the mast to see how straight your spar is side to side. Selecting Line for Running Rigging | West Marine Another trouble spot on keel-stepped masts is where the spar enters the deck, especially if water has leaked under the mast collar. The following resources contain do-it-yourself information on upgrading and maintenance. 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. Replace this after pinning the shroud as it is a safety device if the main pin happens to come loose (It happens!) Sailing Ropes Guide | Cruising World I'm On A Boat- Running Rigging - YouTube The customer had had the boat re-rigged, and during a trip to the BVI, the new wire stretched. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. The short answer is, lithium batteries perform better and last longer than many lead-acid batteries. For those with external halyard blocks, check to make sure all lines run freely and that block bearings arent worn. To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500. Redoing the running rigging on a cruising sailboat involves measuring, measuring and measuring. For all remaining running rigging, you can use polyester double-braid rope. However, what you'll actually pay really depends on the type of boat you have and what you do with it. The final price depends on two things - what type of engine you have, and how hard it is to get to the starter. Wendy Mitman Clarke is currently between passages. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't had a trailer until last year so the mast was up through the winter. 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. There are other wires out there that are cheaper, but theyre not guaranteed.. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. 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. . 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. But you can't really detect corrosion down into the swage. Too narrow for equivalent ropeshould be 10% wider than the diameter of the rope. Make Wire cutting Jig. Some boaters don't shrink wrap in the winter because of it. These boats have less moving parts and less critical parts. Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two).