Rigging -DIY?

[howardclark]

Its about 12 years since my standing rigging was replaced by the last owner. Given he was a 'heavyish' user I asked Calibra Marine (Dartmouth) to check the rigging over whilst the masts are off.
They did an excellent job for a modest charge and have given me a very thorough report on the standing rigging, running rigging, state of masts etc. This has lead me to conclude that within the foreseeable future I should replace the standing rigging 'though I can't afford it this winter. Calibra quoted about £2000 for everything including labour.
To check this out I then looked at Jimmy Green's pricing. I would need about 100m 6mm and 100m 8mm stainless and 32 swages. For materials and swages Jimmy Green would charge about £2000 too but fitting would be a significant extra cost.
So what about it as a DIY job. I'm happy to use 'swageless' fittings. If I buy the wire from 3Si the material cost would be £750 incl. VAT. With mast steps on the main & the mizzen easy to lower, fitting would be slow but comparatively easy. Anyone else done it for themselves? Are the swageless fittings as easy as they say? Also what's the pros and cons of galv. wire c.f. stainless?
PS how can Jimmy Green get away with a premium of £1300 for the materials?

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[charles_reed]

TRY

Marine Technology
Ave Louis Lumiere
17184 Perigny
tel 0033 5 46 45 42 02

Speak with Lulu (his english is perfect), give him the dimensions of the rigging you need.

He'll probably ask you to fax the dimensions the no is 0033 5 46 45 27 55.

My guess is the finished rigging costs will be in the region of €1800. Fitting and tuning would be down to you.

They're the riggers for Z Spars in France

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[mickshep]

Hi Howard. I replaced the rigging on my 5 tonner about 3 years ago. got fright of life at quoted prices. So went shopping. can recommend the d.i.y approach. I ended up buying the rigging wire and bottle screws from a firm in W York's area that manufactured lifting gear. 100m of 6mm stainless wire was just £130, the way over spec bottle screws were £12 each and were later spotted in Plymouth for £40 and yes they were from the same source. The same firm also did Norseman type fittings but had run out due to demand. 6mm is as big as they would Tallurite and was then less than £1/end. I will see if I still have address but have moved a couple of times since then, though I'm pretty sure they were in the Yellow pages. Another alternative would be to wait till summer then go over to Holland. Huender watersports replaced the entire standing rigging on my latest boat (32' sloop) along with bottles etc as well as all the halliards (top quality gear) and spinnaker up/down haul etc. Total cost 1100 euro and they delivered it all to the boat at no extra charge, I can't speak highly enough about them. Good luck. Mike.

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[howardclark]

Thanks - would be very interested in that W Yorks address

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[PeterGibbs]

I assume from your general description that you are only considering galvanised rigging for cost saving. If the rig has SS now, I suggest you stay with it.

Swageless fittings are very good and easy to install, with care. I am not aware they will save you money over swaged fittings. Unless you have a reliable means to cut new SS wire, properly squared off etc, you could waste a lot of wire.

There are numerous competitive riggers around the country, who will replace the gear inch for inch with exactly the same, if you remove and take in the existing rigging. You can do the dismantling and rigging and so save money, concentrating your spend on the gear itself. If this is not practical you will have to pay a yard to do it for you; getting it replaced in sections with the mast standing is going to add to the work hours - perhaps reflected in the estimates you have received.

On my last boat I had the mast removed and phoned around for the best negotiated deal to replace like with like. Worked a treat. Now would be a good time, I think. I guess you can get replacement rigging for about £1000 upwards; Jimmy Green is not the specialist I would have in mind for this job. With larger guage wire (6mm+) the costs rise steeply per foot.

PWG

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[bendyone]

Jimmy Green prices look very expensive - it pays to shop around. Look for industrial supplers - used to be a Raymond Bill in Halesowen area. Try http://mysite.freeserve.com/boatfittings TEL No: 01384482968

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[Birdseye]

replaced major part of my rigging 3 years ago using swageless terminals and stainless wire. once you get the knack, swageless is really easy, and i am told they are if anything more secure than swaged fittings, which harden during swaging and can then crack.

the trick with swageless is:
1/ start with a nice clean cut end
2/ thread on to the wire the screw down part of the fitting
3/ unwind the outer layer of the wire back for an inch or so. do it carefully so that the end of the wire looks a bit like a flower, with none of the unwound wires crossing over each other or bent out of the wavey shape they have after manufacture
4/ fit the cone onto the inner wires
5/ put your hand on the wire above the bit where you have unwound it, grip the wire firmly and pull your hand down over the unwound bit, twisting in the direction of the lay as you go. done well, the unwound will lay itself back down again just as it originally was, but with the cone inside the lay up.
6/ bolt up

way more easy to do than it is to put into words, and a satisfying winter project. and my mast has stayed up!

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[Gordonmc]

If you can get access to a hydraulic swage press doing the whole job is not difficult.
I rerigged my 8 tonner in the winter. I went to a fishing net maker and got a load of 6mm galvanised "wire rope" for a bottle of brandy. They said they don't use the stuff any more as its too light for trawl warps.
My intention was to cut the rope to the right length and deliver to a rigger for swaging, but then found our local chandler had a press. I left the lengths with him and they lay in his shop for a couple of months before he admitted he didn't have time to do the job. He gave me 15 minutes of instruction and said I could get on with it myself.
All the swages were pressed on in a morning. When the mast went back on everthing fitted. Phew!
I used galvanised as that was on the boat when I got it. There are mixed opinions. SS is smarter but can fail suddenly because fatigue can set in unseen. Galvanised needs some maintenance, normally a coating of waxoil or raw linseed oil once a year is enough. If rust does take hold it can be seen and is cheap enough to replace. I would, however, use SS on a forestay as it is hidden by the furling gear and can't be inspected easily.... plus the zinc will wear off if you are using hanked foresails.
Total cost of the project? About £15 for ferrules and eyes... and a bottle of brandy.

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[Plum]

Two things:

1) Jimmy Green wire is very expensive. I paid GBP2.50 per metre last year for 8mm stainless 7X7 wire.

2) Have you considered hand splicing? Yes, it can be done, is a life-long skill once you have mastered it, and will save you money. I tought myself from a book (see Watercraft magazine June 2002)

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[Chris_Robb]

I have been replacing my rigging (27 years old) at the rate of one set per year, (with the agreement of the insurance company) I have so far replaced all the main mast rigging except the twin backstays which will be done this year. I haven't yet touched the mizzen - but then I scarecly ever use it!

All apart from the cap shrouds have been done with the mast up. Do not even try to do the cap shrouds woth the mast up unless you have recently removed the spreader end fittings. Mine were an absolute nightmare - even for a professional to get off - he had previously advised me that this WOULD be a problem.

My rigging is all 8 anmd 10 mm - rather over the top! I understand that Norseman tyoe fittings are easy to use. - so far I have lacked the confidence to try them, so had swages fitted instead - supposedly they are not as good as norseman.

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[howardclark]

Thanks for all the replies - the number of people either doing all or part themselves gives me confidence to have a go.

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[sailorman]

try "Ormiston wire" they have web-site. they manufacture s/s/wire & will supply u, under £150 would do a 28 footer.
Sta-lock" terminals @ manningtree essex will supply terminals.
the rest is in the good advise u already have within the forum

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[WayneS]

As far as I am concerned, a well fitted Norseman is as good as a swage.

At the Southampton Boat show I saw a new design Norseman type fitting. Looked very good. It replaced the internal cone with another fancy bit that keeps all the individual wires spaced correctly. Can't remember the name or supplier though.

I used a Norseman on our forestay under the guidance of a prof rigger.

Cheers

Wayne


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