How much to re-rig?

Arcady

Arcady

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 Dec 2010
Messages
672
Location
Guernsey
Visit site
We're thinking about buying a project boat, which at 40+ years old needs some renovation. Not least of which is the mast and boom, both of which are definitely ratty. What should I be budgeting for to replace mast, boom and standing rigging on a 35' single-spreader masthead sloop, with in-mast furling? Anyone willing to venture an approximate figure? Selden would be nice but Z-Spars (on the whole) seem well regarded and value for money. Any other contenders?

Ta.
 
Thanks Ken,

That was my first thought, but opinion elsewhere today suggested £5k was plenty. It'll be on a long list of other priorities :-)
 
We just replaced all standing rigging on a 36footer, double spreader for £1600 so suspect Kens figures are not far away. If you find some way of replacing mast and boom as well for £5k all in then please share.
 
Cost me over £1k for standing rigging on a 24 footer. Quote to replace the mast (ali) and boom (wooden) was well over £5k so didn't bother. £10k for a larger boat doesn't sound ott.
 
A few years ago I had to give an insurance value for the rig and sails for our 33ft I was advised it should be £17,000.
 
Arcady said:
Thanks Ken,

That was my first thought, but opinion elsewhere today suggested £5k was plenty. It'll be on a long list of other priorities :-)
Click to expand...

Much easier just to phone Z spars and Selden ( or a big rigger like Atlantic in Plymouth) and get a quote - but it won't be less than £10k and with new sails nearer £15k.
 
Friend re-rigged 2 years ago after an accident in the yard. It was just over 10k for a 30 footer. Rig only, no sails.
 
PhillM said:
Cost me over £1k for standing rigging on a 24 footer. Quote to replace the mast (ali) and boom (wooden) was well over £5k so didn't bother. £10k for a larger boat doesn't sound ott.
Click to expand...

OTOH I paid just over £400 for new standing rigging on a 27ftr, including new bottlescrews. But that was nearly five years ago, maybe it's gone up a lot?
I paid another £400 for a new boom for the same boat. Both these were from Z Spars.
 
I would suggest that the mast and boom may be quite serviceable. You would need to remove all fittings clean up corrosion and refit with duralac or similar. A bit of corrosion will not weaken a mast significantly. You can clean it all up and paint it to look good.
The standing rigging wire on the other hand should be replaced. It has a finite life before failure without warning. Bottle srews I guess also should be replaced but especially for broze you can pretty much guage the condition by sight. good luck olewill
 
Thank you all - that is helpful. I've yet to see the mast close up but pictures suggest it's already been modified once at least. For the moment I'll factor in a £10k liability and will talk to Z-Spars if and when we buy.
 
Arcady said:
We're thinking about buying a project boat, which at 40+ years old needs some renovation. Not least of which is the mast and boom, both of which are definitely ratty. What should I be budgeting for to replace mast, boom and standing rigging on a 35' single-spreader masthead sloop, with in-mast furling? Anyone willing to venture an approximate figure? Selden would be nice but Z-Spars (on the whole) seem well regarded and value for money. Any other contenders?

Ta.
Click to expand...

When I replaced my 14.35m mast in 2002, mast and rigging cost €2417, including transport from Perigny to Argeles.
It was bought direct from Z Diffusion (the parent of Z Spars UK), rather than Z Spars, who were about the same cost in £, without transport or rigging.
Selden are definitely more expensive, with a few advantages over Z Spars in the quality of some of their fittings not justifying double their charges.
Careful shopping around should easily halve the delirious price you've been quoted - as long as you do ALL the work yourself and ensure your measurements are UTTERLY correct.
Getting a rigger to do the job will approach closer to £6K.
You should be able to respar and re-suit (with quality sails, UK made) for £10K.
All depends on 1 common factor in 2 things - how competent you are in doing your own work and your negotiating skills.

However getting anything boaty in the UK seems to be prohibitively expensive.
 
Last edited:
Secondhand Masts and Booms do come up, you will eventually find something that will do. Contact yards and marinas to see if they have anything.
 
charles_reed said:
When I replaced my 14.35m mast in 2002, mast and rigging cost €2417, including transport from Perigny to Argeles.
It was bought direct from Z Diffusion (the parent of Z Spars UK), rather than Z Spars, who were about the same cost in £, without transport or rigging.
Selden are definitely more expensive, with a few advantages over Z Spars in the quality of some of their fittings not justifying double their charges.
Careful shopping around should easily halve the delirious price you've been quoted - as long as you do ALL the work yourself and ensure your measurements are UTTERLY correct.
Getting a rigger to do the job will approach closer to £6K.
You should be able to respar and re-suit (with quality sails, UK made) for £10K.
All depends on 1 common factor in 2 things - how competent you are in doing your own work and your negotiating skills.

However getting anything boaty in the UK seems to be prohibitively expensive.
Click to expand...

Suggest you look at the original post. The OP is after an in mast, boom and all rigging, not just a mast - hence the estimate of at least £10k. Add new sails and running rigging and getting up to £15k. New roller furling if needed another £2k. Things are just a tad more expensive now than in 2002!
 
When Foxes were sorting out the problem with my inmast reefing last summer I discussed with them the worst case scenario of it being unrepairable. That would have entailed new mast and boom - Selden In Mast - and a new mainsail to suit. They gave a "ballpark" figure of 10-15K, but shading towards the higher figure.
 
Tranona said:
Suggest you look at the original post. The OP is after an in mast, boom and all rigging, not just a mast - hence the estimate of at least £10k. Add new sails and running rigging and getting up to £15k. New roller furling if needed another £2k. Things are just a tad more expensive now than in 2002!
Click to expand...

I did read the original post and merely reported facts rather than overheated imagination.
I would also ask you why you didn't bother to read my post - the prices I quoted were for what I had.

I have, in the last 12 months bought two mid-range sails, and am in contact with the providers of my original mast, their prices have increased, but not by 400%.
So my estimate for the cost the OP could expect to pay by shopping around, was judgemental, including in-mast furling, factory-fitted.
Of course if one insists on sitting back and enjoying a full service menu you can expect to pay through the nose.

The OP would be well advised to ignore UK experiences and go direct to the European Continnent where he'll find far more competitive suppliers, who actually make the parts and don't import everything.
 
If you use the pro-forma calculator that appears on at least two rigging suppliers e.g. Jimmy Green or (3i) you will see that the cables made up with bottlescrews and terminals of your choice are not extravagant,so diy measurement and fitting on this element may leave more change for the spars.Even easier if you can pack up and send the old stays to be matched.
 
I don't follow how the quotes for just standing rigging are so expensive?

Can't you bring the existing standing rigging to a rigger and just ask them to make up the same again?

(I know masts etc are expensive but standing rigging shouldn't be THAT bad).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top