Rigging Replacement - Screws as well?

UV testing is ongoing.... Right now, using bare rope (uncovered) It looks like Colligo will guarantee 5 years. As data comes in I suspect that time will get longer. Data is coming in from NZ as well as the desert in Arizona and the Sea of Cortez.
There is covered Dux available now. This is what Nigel Caulder is installing on his new boat. It will be in the Southhampton boat show this year. The covered Dux has a very tight weave of SK-75 overbraid wound right over the rope. UV wise this should make it very long lived, I would guess outlasting SS. No fatigue or corrosion to worry about.
As far as cost goes, I think there are comparisons on on the Colligo website. http://www.colligomarine.com/ You may be surprised how reasonable it is, I know we are all used to thinking exotic synthetic rigging is usually 4 or 5 times the cost of SS and last a year or two......:)
I made up my entire rig myself and came in a bit less than regular SS (not dyform, dyform is a lot more $) As I did all my own splices. They are not difficult by a long shot. Locking Brummel with a long tail. Instructions on the Colligo website.
I used 7mm ropes, to replace 7/32" and 1/4" wire. The Westsail in the photos used 9mm. The breaking strength on 9mm Dynex Dux is 27,500 lbs.
I believe the 1/4" wire they replaced was 8,500 lbs. when it was new.
It takes some effort to get your head around rope that is twice the strength of wire, and 1/9th the weight, and you can splice it yourself, and it does not cost anymore.....:eek:

This was written by Brion Toss in 2004. He is promising another chapter now that he is using DYnex Dux (and loving it)

http://www.briontoss.com/education/archive/miscsept04.htm


:-)
 
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This is from a Christmas email I recieved from Brion Toss www.briontoss.com A well known and respected author and rigger.


The first article in the new series is "Protocols for splicing Dynex Dux".

Sounds a bit rigger nerdy, but this stuff is of great interest to everyone in the sailing world who wants the most high-tech, sexy, light, durable, cost-effective standing rigging yet invented.

And, if you aren't ready to make the leap into an all Dynex rig, feature that you can carry a 200', feather-light, ropey hank of the stuff in your fo'c's'le for spare standing rigging. Handy to have out in the South Pacific or up the Inside Passage. You could loan it to a sailor in need and really be a hero!.....

Don't miss this new series coming soon!
 
Dynex/HMPE

I am busy with this as we speak. See my website. We are doing a lot with Henderson Rigging in Sydney, Australia. Dynex and similar HMPE ropes should have a similar to or greater lifespan compared to wire. Plenty of boats in sunny climes are now going down this route. We are finding that it is still best to use rigging screws rather than deadeyes as the mast is not setting up as accurately unless they are asymetrical Wharram cats.

Sorry to hi jack the thread.
 
Every rigger I have spoken to says replace the screws with the rigging. If you do not and they fail your insurance company will almost certainly reject any claim. I have lost one mast - weld failure in the s/s bracket holding the root of a spreader. I had replaced all standing and running rigging that winter but despite that the insurance company claimed it was a case of inadequate maintenance and refused to pay. I met several other owners going through the same process after having mast loss claims rejected by different insurance companies for varied reasons. If you do keep the screws get a signed written assurance that they OK from a rigging company.

Its not only wire that fails, T terminals are probably the next biggest risk but I have also had a near mast loss on a charter boat with a defective rigging screw. At the end of a weeks trip in Plymouth I happened to lift a shroud cover on the port capshroud whilst waiting to hand the boat over. I noticed a crack in the turnbuckle attaching the rigging screw to the chainplate. When I released the tension in the screw I could pull the turnbuckle apart with just finger pressure. We had crossed from the Channel Islands on starboard tack, if we had ever tacked onto port the mast would have gone straight over the side.

Incidentally, the year I lost my mast I had just joined the RYA. After about 6 months I wrote to their lawyer to ask his opinion. Within a week I had his reply extending to about 4 pages of A4. I posted that to the insurance company and got a cheque by return of post - best membership value I have ever had.
 
Every rigger I have spoken to says replace the screws with the rigging.

When I had my standing rigging replaced this year the rigger said "they're OK, don't bother"...

I think that as in all these things, my level of experience in this is such that I will always take the advice of the professional...

Now it may well be that his decision was also tempted by the size/style of my boat - if I was a 25 foot racing sledge of a thing I suspect the answer would have been different - so that also should be considered... :confused:
 
I would look at the chain plate bolts as well. I had 4 70X12mm countersink head shear off after only 6 years use, cost me and the Insurance co a lot of money. Bolts bought in Turkey!!! The four on the other side did not show to the naked eye any signs of cracks They have been changed though
cheers bobt
 
I would look at the chain plate bolts as well. I had 4 70X12mm countersink head shear off after only 6 years use, cost me and the Insurance co a lot of money. Bolts bought in Turkey!!! The four on the other side did not show to the naked eye any signs of cracks They have been changed though
cheers bobt

we have Hex bolts.
i am re-rigging now & advised to change screws, i am happy with that as the rig has chain plates well inboard & more highly stressed than a light weight AWB.
 
we have Hex bolts.
i am re-rigging now & advised to change screws, i am happy with that as the rig has chain plates well inboard & more highly stressed than a light weight AWB.

Cough!! cough! splutter!!!AWB,splutter
Ile let you know Sunmagics are the best boat jeanneau ever made. 11 tons in 44feet These are not Solent only boats you know :)

cheers bobt
 
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scrap it or what?

Ok so having replaced the standing rigging, as one of the "make do and mend" generation should I keep one of each length of the old stuff stowed in the Lazarette "just in case" - or let the rigger chuck it all in the skip? Or, alternatively compromise by just keeping the longest length - bound to come in handy for something? I tend towards the compromise as old habits die hard and my garage is full of rusty junk off every car/motorbike/van I've ever owned although the only time I ever needed something was after I'd eventually decided to get rid of it....
 
Ok so having replaced the standing rigging, as one of the "make do and mend" generation should I keep one of each length of the old stuff stowed in the Lazarette "just in case" - or let the rigger chuck it all in the skip? Or, alternatively compromise by just keeping the longest length - bound to come in handy for something? I tend towards the compromise as old habits die hard and my garage is full of rusty junk off every car/motorbike/van I've ever owned although the only time I ever needed something was after I'd eventually decided to get rid of it....

i am going to keep / retain mine. if it has to go as scrap i will have the wonga not the rigger.
the screws will have some value on fleabay :D
 
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