Rigging Inspection (how much?)

[Nigelb]

I am due to have some remedial work done on my mizzen mast next week, given the opportunity I thought I might get the rig checked as I have no reliable record of its age or any recent inspection. I have been quoted £269 for an inspection and written report. Two man job so fair price for the Hamble.?

 

[brians]

HYS at Port Hamble will do it for far less.

 

[Daydream believer]

I paid £200 ( inc traveling 20 miles each way) for T & S rigging from Maldon. Included standing & running rigging for insurance. Was not asked for by insurance Co but as mast was down i considered a prudent exercise

 

[dslittle]

I paid £200 ( inc traveling 20 miles each way) for T & S rigging from Maldon. Included standing & running rigging for insurance. Was not asked for by insurance Co but as mast was down i considered a prudent exercise

Serious question. How did they do it whilst the mast was down?

 

[William_H]

I would strongly suggest that you do the inspection your self. In so much as your inspection is probably as good (useful) as a professional. I would then suggest that you use the money to replace the stays on the mizzen mast. Then do the main mast. Stainless steel rigging wire lets go apparently after a number of years. (Like 20 or more) This happens with no warning or way of foretelling an imminent failure. The rest of the rigging components tend to be much larger (stronger) than the wire so if they appear OK then probably they are. Replacement of the wire on calender age seems the only safe bet. olewill

 

[vyv_cox]

I would strongly suggest that you do the inspection your self. In so much as your inspection is probably as good (useful) as a professional. I would then suggest that you use the money to replace the stays on the mizzen mast. Then do the main mast. Stainless steel rigging wire lets go apparently after a number of years. (Like 20 or more) This happens with no warning or way of foretelling an imminent failure. The rest of the rigging components tend to be much larger (stronger) than the wire so if they appear OK then probably they are. Replacement of the wire on calender age seems the only safe bet. olewill

Sorry, have to disagree. Wire shrouds fail in fatigue, almost always at a swaged fitting where the local stress is higher (stress raiser). The fatigue curve for 300 series stainless steels includes a 'safe area' beneath the curve, in which the material will last indefinitely provided the cyclic stress remains at that level. Shroud wires usually fail because there is some misalignment, too much slackness causing shock loadings and several others. All of these increase the local stress. Some examples on the website.

When wires do fail they do so strand by strand. A careful inspection will reveal these fractures, sometimes because strands poke out but sometimes they are hidden within the swage. The 10, 15 or 20 year life often quoted is simply the result of a statistical analysis by insurance companies.

 

[mihtjel]

Local riggers here do free inspection in winter if you bring all the bits to their shop. Obviously they then expect to get to replace anything that's defective.

 

[Daydream believer]

Serious question. How did they do it whilst the mast was down?

It enabled them to examine every bit of the rigging plus identify a kink in the forestay when it was slack plus strip the furler & find an unstranded wire inside the case ( replacement was extra) plus determine why the shackle at the hounds had twisted 45 degrees. it also allowed them to examine spreader ends by removing the covers which would have been difficult at mast height.
They did not ask for the mast to be removed I just felt it would be a useful exercise & as it turned out there was a fault with the forestay wire so worth the effort
They also examined the bearings to the furler & gave them a clean bill of health which might have been awkward under load.
The price I quoted was for the survey only although it did inc removing the furler to look at the wire inside & at the bearings. It did not include returning to re assemble furler & fit new forestay

 

[Birdseye]

I am due to have some remedial work done on my mizzen mast next week, given the opportunity I thought I might get the rig checked as I have no reliable record of its age or any recent inspection. I have been quoted £269 for an inspection and written report. Two man job so fair price for the Hamble.?

Waste of money. There is no way that you can predict the point at which fatigue failure will affect your standing rigging so all an inspection can do is to check if there are any external broken strands, or cracked fittings. Both things that you can do yourself with common sense and a magnifying glass.

Best add a bit more to the pot and replace rigging you dont know the history of.

 

[GrahamM376]

Waste of money. There is no way that you can predict the point at which fatigue failure will affect your standing rigging so all an inspection can do is to check if there are any external broken strands, or cracked fittings. Both things that you can do yourself with common sense and a magnifying glass.
Best add a bit more to the pot and replace rigging you dont know the history of.

I don't consider the €50 we paid for an inspection (mast up) and written report to be waste of money as insurers were quite happy for me not to replace the rig. OTOH at the prices some are quoting here, I may have changed my mind.

 

[smb]

Sub £100 in Portsmouth harbour a month back (sloop ashore, mast up), though the report did come with a comment that as the rigs age was uncertain replacement recommended as it is likely to be over 10 years old.

 

[Daydream believer]

Waste of money. f.

If I had felt that I would not have proceeded. The fact that a fault was found & rectified was good enough.
The initial reason was to avoid any accident to crew or yacht by rig failure & if there was one, then to have backup for the insurance co. . The rig was not old but still requires examination & a survey by a skilled rigger ( not a DIY ill informed look) demonstrates that one is taking the necessary steps to ensure that the boat is kept in good working order