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? Check out my guide on standing rigging here! Let's start by getting a good overview of the different maintenance costs. Did you find the answer to your specific question? Too narrow for equivalent ropeshould be 10% wider than the diameter of the rope. The idea is you come on deck with this small canvas bag and make it happen, Cockerill says. Sailboat Rigging. As a basic rule, the replacement of the standing rig should be done every 10 years, except for multihulls or regattas, and rod or composite fiber rigging. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. All rights reserved. On top of that, maintaining your boat properly is critical. I am going to be getting new jib sheets with will be 7/16" for ease of handling. The diameter of the sheets and halyards will depend on what fits the blocks that you have. Strong, durable lines are essential for controlling the sails on your boat without risking your own safety, or that of the sails. The average cost of a new cruising sailboat is about $250,000. A prudent sailor should inspect his or her standing rig at least once each season and should know when the time comes to replace most or all of it. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. 9034 GD Marsum The cost to replace standing rigging obviously varies from boat to boat. We are a proud supplier of Yale Cordage. 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. 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. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2 nylon: 25 bow, 15 stern, and 20 spring. 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. Kinks in wire is like chafe on a line. 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. I won't go into detail, but I have written an in-depth article about the cost of new sails (opens in new tab). Hardwood would be best but we used epoxied plywood and it was adequate. A forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Replace this after pinning the shroud as it is a safety device if the main pin happens to come loose (It happens!) Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! If in doubt, get a professional opinion. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. I ended up just replacing all of the standing rigging through rigginonly.com in Fairhaven Ma. 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. In marine environments, everything can go wrong exactly one time for it to be critical. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . Use a low stretch Dacron such as Sta-Set-X for halyards. Just because a line or even the whole boat is new, doesnt mean there isnt something wrong with the running rigging. Replacement of the rigging components is more frequent and based on inspection. Labor total: $1,000 on average 34' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $3,000 - $5,000. [advertisement] Take this opportunity to check out your spars as well. Put together both the pieces of your mast. The two primary manufacturers of mechanical fittings presently are Sta-Lok and Petersen Stainless, which produces Hi-MOD. 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. 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. Lastly, check your boom, starting with the gooseneck, mainsheet and vang fittings, where huge forces are applied when the rig is under load. For a small boat (under 30 feet), you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $2000 for standing rigging replacement. But you can't really detect corrosion down into the swage. Saltwater is a lot more corrosive, and the stress on your rigging and sails will be higher. 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. For a medium-sized boat (30-50 feet), the cost will be somewhere between $2000 and $4000. 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. It requires more careful consideration of condition, usage, and inspection for signs of failure. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat. So youre sailing offshore and youre looking at the windward shroud thats taut, and thats not the one to worry about. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. 1. The mechanical fasteners are great in that you can terminate and then look inside to be sure its formed correctly, so you do have a way of inspecting your work, Madden says. The breaking strength of this line is now significantly reduced. For all remaining running rigging, you can use polyester double-braid rope. Re-rigging To re-mouse the halyards, flake out the halyard, attach the working end to the mousing line that comes from the masthead, and check they are secure, before pulling back through. The average annual maintenance cost of sailboats is between $2,000 - $3,000. 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. I use a 3D model and some diagrams. 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. The boat owner or previous rigger had clearly replaced the old line without looking for the source of the chafe. This line is double braided polyester, so the cover is responsible for carrying up to 30% of the load. It sounds to me that the question is when, not if you will go for new rigging. Run the shrouds and attach them to the deadeyes on the hull. Every time I think Ive seen it all, my people outdo themselves and serve up the unexpected. With a spare mechanical end fitting, wire and the proper tools, you can replace a stay pretty much anywhere. 3. Start at the bottom, working your way up from the lowers, to the cap shrouds and finally the stays. A good set of rigging is of great importance in order to ensure navigation without causing any damage. Sta-Set X is an ideal. Today, with the advent of super-strong synthetic line such as AmSteel and Dyneema, the need for that extra wire and gear is eliminated. Their solidworks simulations revealed the rigging was on the lighter side. JavaScript is disabled. 1. Steps. In a tropical area, or high sunshine location, you should replace the running rigging every six to eight years. Mechanical fittings can be applied using a few common hand tools by the mechanically handy DIY sailor, which is one reason theyre popular. Read more on boat engine replacement costs here. Inevitably. I push the boat hard whenever conditions allow and am always a bit leery of its old rigging. Before long this will create slack in the rig, generating bends and stresses elsewhere. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com This line wont last long in these conditions. The golden rule has always been never to work on a rig with the boat out of the water. Marine-suitable stainless wire is called 316 grade, but even that doesnt mean youre necessarily getting high-quality wire. 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. There is minor chafe on all sides of the line and along the entire length. Inspect any integral reefing sheaves or bearing wear or UV degradation. This number is reached by assuming that the average cost for materials is around $1,500, 32 hours to fabricate the rigging, and 30 hours to install the rigging. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists, definitely check out my article here. I should have changed mine sooner than I did. By taking on the labor yourself, youll probably save as much as $2,000 on the re-rigging cost, he says. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. That cost me $10k. Running the halyards Both the Jib and Main halyards are purple , high-load, Marlow Spectra line. Boats used for coastal cruising, week ending or day sailing may go longer. Consider this a half inch diameter Samson Tech-12 (12 Strand Technora) line has an average breaking load of 33,000 pounds. So here are some tips and things to look for so that you can replace your running rigging before it breaks. I found some tests that some SBO folks had done many years ago on the O'Day 25's standing rigging. 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. 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. (This is true anywhere there are stainless fittings by the way, so be wary of putting too much tape or tight-fitting covers on them.). 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. On average, it costs about $15 to $20 per foot to get your sailboat hull painted professionally. The installation of the engine will cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. The typical sheets for a low-tech, limited budget sailer is single braid Dacron. Learn More; Reliable Standing Rigging. The fastest route to crevice corrosion is to cover the metal with plastic or leather turnbuckle covers or to coat the fittings in tape. On modern boats, chainplates are fitted outboard (right) and covered with a plate that lets water drain. Just a FYI. 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. 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. As with electronics, safety gear, and even sails, technology has significantly improved cordage. Installing the new standing rigging is simple for a trailer sailor after the mast is unstepped. [1] 2. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Another factor in your DIY decision-making process is simple: peace of mind. Check and make sure the sheaves run freely, that the bearings are not worn oval and that the retaining pins are secure. 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. Preparing The Boat For Rigging. You must log in or register to reply here. There are other wires out there that are cheaper, but theyre not guaranteed.. To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500. For sheets, if you're happy with the length take the old ones off determine the gauge and and match them up. A lot of new boat owners overlook the maintenance costs of sailboats - and maintenance can get pricey quickly. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. Would you replace this? 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. Although anyone can walk into a local chandlery and buy wire, that doesnt mean the wire is of the highest quality. Opti Running Rigging Sheets Halyard Line Sailboat Kit. Tips on leading lines aft to the cockpit for single-handed sailing; Running rigging color selection, line storage, and more! They aren't even worn enough to require end-for ending yet. 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. The average price of new sailboats is $250,000, ranging from $96,000 to $654,000. The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. The final price depends on two things - what type of engine you have, and how hard it is to get to the starter. A third visual indicator are cracks in swaged fittings, some of the most common end fittings for wire. For a 26' sailboat, that's just 500 bucks. Our sailboat ropes and lines were designed to withstand any weather condition without fraying, tearing, or catching. A smaller loop is a makeshift chainplate attachment you can attach it to a neighboring chainplate and attach the stay to it. 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. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. The interval of longterm maintenance will increase dramatically in these conditions. If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000. Contact us Allow at least a foot for each splice or knot. This was seen on a brand new boat at the 2020 Seattle Boat Show. 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. Winter storms and ice can damage the hull and mast as well. 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. 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). Gas engines run for about 1,500 hours, diesel engines run for 5,000. Check the deck around the chainplates and mast for cracking and delamination. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Exhausted In Singapore, For All the Wrong Reasons, Cruising World Takes Multiple Honors in Annual Writing and Photography Contest. For docklines a 27 ft. boat would use 1/2" nylon: 25' bow, 15' stern, and 20' spring. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. Three strand is referable and less expensive than braid for dock and anchor lines also a lot easier to splice. Money well spent. These boats have less moving parts and less critical parts. Keep your sailboats mast securely in place by carefully inspecting all of your spars components and replacing parts before you have a breakdown. JavaScript is disabled. Dyneema is especially susceptible to UV degradation. Now, let's return to the original proposition, which was a complete replacementon three different cost levelsof basic running rigging for a 32 sloop. It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period. 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. Wire rigging is generally less expensive and easier to handle. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. Replacing electronics won't be very important - however, your batteries will need to be replaced more often. Then we head over to Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies for a tu. In this article, we'll break down the average prices of different sailboats by type, age, condition, and size. A good boat supply store will be able to help. Another trouble spot on keel-stepped masts is where the spar enters the deck, especially if water has leaked under the mast collar. The wire itself rarely fails midway along a shroud, so this makes good sense. Let's go over each type and break down which costs to expect exactly. The cost of replacing the standing rigging is, on average, $4,000 every 10 years. By taking on the labor yourself, you'll probably save as much as $2,000 on the re-rigging cost, he says. Perhaps a rogue cotter pin sticking out of a turnbuckle. You can see that the chafe is only occurring on one side of the line, the side that comes in contact with the sheave. Deep cycle batteries (which are best for household functionality) need replacing every 4-6 years and will cost roughly $600. These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. Sampson Ropes make a double braid dacron called XLS, New England Ropes make a similar product called Sta-Set and Yale Ropes product is called Vizzion. 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. It is comprised of fixed lines, wires, or rods that are designed to support each mast or bowsprit on sailing vessels. 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. Failing to winterize it will increase your maintenance cost over time, as the engine wears out more quickly, and your plumbing and equipment will fall apart. This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. Make Wire cutting Jig. In this article, I'll show you what to expect. The deciding factor of how much will this cost exactly is whether you can simply bolt the new engine in or whether you have to adjust all other parts, including shaft logs, exhausts, electrics, and so on. This halyard definitely needs to be replaced. We offer a full range of sailing lines to replace any or all the running rigging on your boat such as halyards, sailboat sheets or control lines. It does not all wear out at the same rate. 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). They can provide a higher percentage of nominal capacity than lead-acid batteries, without shortening their life. Low-cost tension gauges are now available and are a useful addition to your cruising toolbox anyway. Polyester double braid works great for frequently adjusted lines, like main and jib sheets, or moderately loaded control lines. Die testing wont pick it up, and its rare that a wire will give you warning before breaking.. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. Having to hire a rigger to climb your mast to run a new halyard after the old one breaks. 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. 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. Why do you want to suddenly replace all your running rigging? Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years. Marlow Ropes in the UK produce Marlowbraid. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. Boom Vang. On this eye splice, the core has herniated out of the cover. A swaged fitting is a terminus thats attached using a machine called a swager. Although the hull actually read more, It was March, and Id made it through another Maine winter. The masthead is a good place to start, and while youre at it, its worth looking closely at the mast as well as the rigging, to see if any corrosion, cracks or weld defects are evident. We only sell guaranteed-content, guaranteed-process wire, Herman says. SKIRMISH was a 32-footer carrying an Aboriginal motif on her bows, recalling Skirmish Point, where Flinders landed and encountered the local Aboriginal community. This one didnt. They weigh less and take up less room. Please try again. The Out Haul can be simply a single line the pulls the foot of the sail toward the free end of the boom or the Out Haul can consist of an elaborate arrangement of blocks. 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. How exactly do you determine how much line you need for a given size sailboat? Free shipping on $90+! 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. For instance, for an offshore bluewater boat, Madden recommends 10 years, and for a serious coastal cruiser, more like 12. Buy some light line and run it as you would your sheets and halyards and measure that. Add winches and UV rays and the wear and tear can be significant so it's important to use a quality line. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. 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.. 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). Riggers say the question of whether to rig with wire or rod is usually fairly easily answered: Run what you brung. 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. Do this by placing a wrap of tape 3 up from the upper chainplate pin hole on each upper shroud. If you want to go for super low stretch halyards look at Spectra but the stretch isnt much more for a lot more bucks. 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. Double braid lines are used in running rigging and dock . But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. But you should think carefully before you go ahead and buy any high tech replacement running rigging. It would help if we knew what your boat was! To save you from surprises, here's a full overview of costs you can expect when owning a sailboat. 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. And if you see evidence of wear, ask yourself (or your local rigger) What could have caused this? The cost of having a professional rigger inspect your running rigging can save you more money down the road. Specific Gravity is 1.38, so it does not float. Your subscription could not be saved. The screw threads and locking nuts need regular cleaning and some light greasing to prevent corrosion. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. . Some boaters don't shrink wrap in the winter because of it. The life span of rigging depends on how heavily a boat has been sailed and on the care taken with tuning. The number one destroyer of line is chafe. Send messengers up mast for in-mast rigging - 3/2018 Cleat the jib off on the port side of the mast and the main on the starboard. One part of sailboats and yachts that must be inspected, maintained, or even replaced when necessary is the standing rigging. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the beach in a bad blow. I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. Do disconnect them and inspect them very carefully for cracks on a well-lit workbench. When the rig is tuned the wires are stretched. Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. I recently sailed on a boat that had rust around the wire/swage on all the shrouds.