New standing rigging - include turnbuckles?

[skyflyer]

One of the reasons given for time-based rather than condition-based replacement of standing rigging is that the wires may have internal failures that cannot be seen. Corrosion inside swaged fittings is another weak point.

Given that turnbuckles and toggles are around £40 a piece I wondered given that they are nominally stronger than the cable or end fittings anyway whether they could be simply non-destructively tested (dye penetrant, for example) and re-used?

I know its penny pinching but if properly tested, why not?

 

[vyv_cox]

I can see no reason why not. Careful visual inspection should be enough but dye pen would perhaps be better. Fatigue cracks are probably the most likely failure mode for them but make sure the threads are good also.

 

[nimbusgb]

Perhaps one of our suitably equipped forum members could get their hands on some recently replaced rigging and test it to destruction.

Might be interesting to see if these rigging changes are completely necessary.

 

[Concerto]

My Fulmar had a new mast in 1996 after a bottlescrew broke (before the previous owner). So, yes, they can fail. It is your choice, but I would change everything to be safe.

 

[Boat441]

The real question is, what does your insurance company say?

 

[GrahamM376]

The real question is, what does your insurance company say?

My insurers are quite happy with the occasional professional rig inspection, they don't have a mandatory time expired.

 

[Modulation]

My insurers are quite happy with the occasional professional rig inspection, they don't have a mandatory time expired.

Nor do most, I believe. But you need to show that you have behaved "reasonably" - whatever that means!

 

[prv]

Perhaps one of our suitably equipped forum members could get their hands on some recently replaced rigging and test it to destruction.

Might be interesting to see if these rigging changes are completely necessary.

Thing is, since you might be sailing the day before you replace it, it should still be plenty strong enough the day after. So such a test wouldn't really prove anything.

Pete

 

[William_H]

A frofound question and yes I would agree that rigging screews do not often fail and should be possible to inspect for deteriration. On my 21fter the rigging screws were 32 years old when I decided to replace them. I did this more for credibility than my belief they wore too old.
Rigging wire and specifically the swage connections do fail on a calender basis and should be replaced something like 15 years. This from my experience of a lot of failures at my club good luck olewill

 

[vyv_cox]

My Fulmar had a new mast in 1996 after a bottlescrew broke (before the previous owner). So, yes, they can fail. It is your choice, but I would change everything to be safe.

It's a fact that almost anything can break given the right circumstances. That doesn't mean that we throw everything away once it reaches a certain age. These days any up-to-date organisation practises condition based maintenance, relying on appropriate inspection to decide whether equipment is fit for further service. In the case of rigging screws and other components that inspection is largely visual, looking for fatigue cracks or other life-shortening deterioration.

It's also a fact that some new equipment is faulty from manufacture, so new rigging screws also need to be inspected before fitting.

 

[charles_reed]

One of the reasons given for time-based rather than condition-based replacement of standing rigging is that the wires may have internal failures that cannot be seen. Corrosion inside swaged fittings is another weak point.

Given that turnbuckles and toggles are around £40 a piece I wondered given that they are nominally stronger than the cable or end fittings anyway whether they could be simply non-destructively tested (dye penetrant, for example) and re-used?

I know its penny pinching but if properly tested, why not?

Definitely - the usual point of failure of a rigging wire is where the swaging has work hardened the wire - both my failures have occured at the swage point, though never at the turnbuckle.
I'd also repeat the advice given me about the turnbuckles to use - plated bronze, never stainless steel.

 

[Fantasie 19]

My Fulmar had a new mast in 1996 after a bottlescrew broke (before the previous owner). So, yes, they can fail. It is your choice, but I would change everything to be safe.

Having done a rigging replace (where I didn't replace the bottle screws) and then seen the mast go over the side due to failure of a bottle screw, I couldn't agree more!

 

[merlin3688]

If you have a good quality Chrome Bronze rigging screw (Sta Lok or similar) then as long as it is checked then its possible to change just the wires and swage terminals, if however you have a cheap stainless rigging screw then my advice would be to change them!

 

[KellysEye]

Our boat had STA-LOK fittings which you can easily seal to stop corrosion.