Rigging 10 years old. Should I renew? Also...

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rays

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We intend taking the boat down to La Rochelle this September and have been geeting lots of refitting/upgrading done. Got a quote for re-rigging (Jeaneau 40' sloop rigged). £1850. Does this seem reasonable (weell, it's not reasonable, but you know what I mean!)
 
2 winters ago when Gladys went to Fox's for repair I got a few quotes and FOx's at £1100 was the cheapest by a long way. They also spotted a few issues (spreader ends breaking up, and did the repair after mentioning it for only £25. Gladys rigging was indeterminate age, she's masthead sloop 35' long, masthead rig with 2 pairs of lowers and an additional forestay....
 
It is more than twice what we paid for rerigging our 33 footer 3 years ago (40+ft mast, double spreader, baby stay, split backstay). I'd say that it looks expensive.

What's happened to the boat in last 10 years? Has it been raced regularly? Any severe storms at sea? Any visible damage or distortion? If the answer is "no" to all these then there is probably some life left in it.
 
All depends on how heavy the rigging is. If she was rigged as a racer or cruiser/racer (or even just to reduce cost/wt) whith minimal gauge wire would probably be a good idea to replace. If she was rigged for cruising, ie up 1 gauge, or ocean, up 2 gauges and probably extra stays, and hasn't seen very large milages and/or very heavy use then the rig is probably fine. The 10 year rule is only an estimate as the issue is whether the stress on the rigging has work hardened it. Might be worth talking to a rigger (rather than a rig seller)
 
This isn't a 'yes' or 'no', just a comment on our cruising yacht.

Our rig is now about 17 years old. It is on a 35' long keel cruising yacht, and is rather conservative. Definitely not undersized, and there are twin lowers, two headstays ('slutter' rig) and twin backstays (which are larger than the side stays), with single spreaders on the cap shrouds.

The rig had no sailing use during the first 3 years of its life, as the previous Owner was outfitting her from the 'sail / motor away' condition that he bought her in.
We have had the boat for the past 11 years - during this time a year was spent ashore renovating the interior after a fire on board (with the previous owner).
She has been sailed conservatively during the past 10 years, and quite honestly has not had an awful lot of use.

I am more worried about the cyclic loading on the rig when she rolls at her mooring - there is always a swell there, and she has a wineglass midship section, which rolls most enthusiastically.
Has anybody got an opinion as to if repeated cycling of loads on the rig from rolling (without sails up) would contribute to fatigue / word hardening etc of the rig?

Saying all of the above (no mention of replacement yet!), I am starting to think that it would be a good idea to consider some renewal. In view of how we have two of everything apart from the cap shrouds, I am planning on replacing these first - within the next year.
I see no need yet to replace everything one time (cant afford it either!) and I hope that I will not have to 'eat my words'!
 
wintering ashore with mast up is probably more harmful than afloat. Gusts cause repeated small shock loads made worse if rig is too slack - many seem to be. If your rig is of the type in which failure of one component eg forestay would be catastrophic then replacement is the safest option. Intended use and distance from repair facilities is also a consideration.
 
I just replaced rigging last winter that was between 20 and 30 years old and appears good as new, but the insurers didnt like it....

Trouble is stress failures in stainless wire tend not to show up until they fail. The usual failure points are where the rigging enters a terminal fitting. The extra stress of compression in the fitting, hard edges, and disturbance or opening of individual strands are the culprits, so any sign of a single strand anywhere having failed or not being correctly laid against its fellows is a sure sign things are not right.
 
This is one of those "pieces of string" questions - rather enjoyed the pun, and now I move on:

1. If nothing and no one is forcing/obliging you to re-rig, the argument sways against spending the money. It would be wrong to think that a new rig was 100% bulletproof. And there are other ways, I'm sure, of spending £1000+ that add a lot more security to your life afloat!

2. But the forestay is usually the weak point. If that fails - and in my furling rig I cannot check it visually except top and bottom twice a year - the whole lot goes over the side. That's why I, quite arbitrarily, junk it at 10 years.

On the 80:20 principle I should get value for spending.

PWG
 
If you need to spend the money, or you have reason to suspect damage/ potential failure fine. But otherwise????

My boat is 35 years old, I have had it 20 years. To the best of my knowledge the rigging is original. I have no intention of changing it unless I spot a problem. In the meantime, keep looking, & not spending.
 
Stainless Steel rigging wire 1X19 has a dreadfull habit of letting go when it gets old. I have seen 3 boats of recent years with 3/16 SS shrouds that were over 20yo just let go. With resultant breaking of the mast. The rigging looked fine then suddenly broken usually at the bottom of side stays where the wire enters the swage.
I would urge Searush to replace rigging soon. To Cambridgedon. the rigging should be Ok after 10 years. If you have doubts then I suggest the cap shrouds and intermediate shrouds are the critical ones. Backstay is not so critical and forestay broken usually means mast stays up with the jib halyard.
But if you are a nervous typewho wouldn't enjoy a long ocean sail with doubts about the rigging then you doubts will dictate. olewill.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am more worried about the cyclic loading on the rig when she rolls at her mooring -

[/ QUOTE ]My rig is very heavy for what we do and aside from the insurance issue my concern is crevice corrosion. I've seen so many examples of stainless fracture that I am persuaded it is a major issue. The problem occurs when the air is excluded but moisture gets into a part (e.g. a thread, or badly-made swage) when corrosion can race ahead at an incredible speed. Without oxygen, stainless is as liable to corrode as ordinary steel.

We are ten years old in January, so I need to look into it.
 
Thanks for all the responses. Food for thought. The idea of survey + replace the most vunerable bits sounds good. Anyone have a rigging surveyor recommendation (east coast).
CD
 
You could also replace each piece on a rotating basis (then you could say that your rigging is never older than 10 years /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif), so you don't need to take the mast down, and there isn't an unpleasant hit on the wallet.
 
If cost is a concern you might want to think about doing it yourself with a swageless fitting such as Stalok. I don't have that myself but know people who do and say it's easy to do and reliable - others may have more info on the advantages/disadvantages and likely savings.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone have a rigging surveyor recommendation (east coast).
CD

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are based at Woolverstone the MDL rigger is pretty good. Otherwise Rig Magic have a very good reputation.
 
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