Standing rigging age and insurance

[bobdoughty]

Hi, looking for help again in getting on the water cheaply. I hear tell that insurance companies are insisting on standing rigging being 10 years old or less for comprehensive insurance and that on rigging older than that they will only offer 3rd party. Does anyone know anything about that or any other quirks, trends or tips on the insurance business? The boat's worth about £4,000 if that informs the debate. As usual, many thanks.

 

[damo]

Not all insurer's - mine wanted a boatyard report, but I did have to argue with them about it (CraftInsure)

 

[bobgoode]

At that price boat you may be surprised how cheaply you can renew the standing rig. It may not be worth the hassle of getting reports etc.

 

[dovekie]

Another alternative, if you lnow the rigging to be sound, may be to let the insurance company exclude rigging failure from the policy.

 

[wotayottie]

what you have heard is nonsense. Insurance companies vary considerably - my rigging in parts is 16 years old and they do not require it to be changed. Instead, its inspected by me when the mast is down.

However, you dont want the mast falling down at an inconvenient time so the best thing is to have sound rigging. Thats the trouble with low cost boats - replaces and repairs arent any different in cost to more expensive boats.

 

[davidpbo]

Replacing forestay, backstay down to tensioning arrangement and shrouds (4) cost me less than £200 in 2002 I think about £160 including courier charge on a 23ft boat.

 

[reeac]

My insurers have never asked me about my standing rigging but nevertheless I had it all renewed at 15 years old and will do so again after another 10-15 years. I prefer to be a self-starter in these matters rather than waiting to be driven by the insurers.

 

[pdavies]

In order to get insurance I had to replace the standing rigging on my Sadler 32 in 2007 (it was over 10 years old). total cost was £1500.

 

[vyv_cox]

Things may have changed, but my insurers (Haven Knox Johnston) have never seen a survey or taken any interest in rigging or any other component. We were insured with them for our previous boat, changed to our current one in 1996 and transferred insurance. They didn't ask for a copy of the survey then and never have since.

 

[doug748]

Pretty much the same with Pantaenius.

 

[samwise]

Certainly attitudes from insurers do vary, and in my experience, their interest in the condition of your boat may depend upon what you want to do with it. but the issue about standing rigging must surely involve an element of self preservation, AS you know, deterioration of rigging wires is very hard tio spot. What looks fine on the outside, could be corroding nicely on the inside. Vyv would know this better than me, but bottle screws and turnbuckles etc must have a finite life, but that depends upon how the boat has been sailed -- racing must impose a greater strain on the rig. Personally i would always choose to play safe and feel confident that the rig was fit for purpose. In my own case we renewed all the standing rigging on our Westerly Storm before setting off on our trip down to the Med. The previous owner thought that some parts had been renewed, but the overall feeling was that most of the gear was original 1988 stuff. It looked ok with no obvious signs of corrosion or deterioration, but I did not want to find out about a hidden problem the hard way.
If you don't want to spend, but are looking for a bit of peace of mind, get the mast unstepped and have a a proper rig survey.

 

[webcraft]

It can depend on the age and value of the boat. Most companies still want a survey for fully comp insurance on any boat over 20 years old.

If you need a full recent survey then it probably isn't worth it on a boat of that value - stick with 3rd party insurance, which will only cost you £100 a year, and put the money you have saved in a contingency fund.

- W

 

[davidbains]

For a boat of that value third party insurance is simpler/cheaper. Especially if you're prepared to mantain it yourself.

 

[Gunfleet]

I'm facing this problem this year. I have a 40 year old boat in good condition and worth a bit over ten grand - maybe 14. The rig was renewed in 2003, so no problem there. The insurer wants a survey before I renew in 2008. So that means haul out, hire a stand (it's a long keeler) hire a surveyor. It'll cost the better part of £500 by the time Gordie Brown's had his cut. Then I have to find another £200 just to pay the insurance. So who can recommend a good quality third party insurer?

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
So who can recommend a good quality third party insurer?


[/ QUOTE ] Bishop Skinner - they covered us afloat all year for £100 for all European waters including the Canaries and the Azores.

- W

 

[Gunfleet]

Terrific. Thanks for that. I'll give them a call.

 

[LadyInBed]

"total cost was £1500"
Can we have the other half of the story please -
Swaged or Swageless
Done by you or rigger
Did the cost include crane out / in, just a crane for the mast, or both
Questions, questions, nothing but questions! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Seven Spades]

I have just bought an 11 year old boat with its original mast head rig so I looked at my policy very carefully. It does not say anything about the rigging, but it does say that you have to keep you boat in a sea worth condition ( or words to that effect), consequently I would say that there is a risk that that the insurance company would have an option to dispute a claim because of "old rigging". I intend to have the boat re-rigged, possibly unnecessarily, but I cannot afford to loose the boat.

 

[charles_reed]

My insurers, likewise, have not required a survey.

However a very good rigger once told me that once round the world or 16 years, whichever is less, should be the limit for stainless standing rigging.

My experience with a hard-sailed 3/4 rig is that I've only had inners and intermediates go, invariably at the upper swage and with no visible warning to a careful visual inspection.

Rigging replacement is unnecessarily expensive in the UK - one can usually get it done in France for about 60% of UK quotes.

Only use bronze turnbuckles, not SS and try Z Spars UK - give my regards to Marilyn.

Alternative is Lulu at Marine Technology in Perigny 0033 5 46 45 42 02. Transport might be a little expensive.

 

[Gordonmc]

There's no info on your boat in your bio, but would galvanised wire rope look the part?
There are some advantages: its cheap... I got more than enough 6mm to re-rig my 30 footer from a fishing net maker; it shows if its strength is compromised while SS can fail catastrophically without warning.
I managed to swage the eyes on a machine I was allowed to use by my local chandler... he didn't have the time or inclination to do the job and charge me.
Its been up two years with a dose of waxoyl and no sign of rust so its down now for another dressing. It replaced 25 year old galv which was sound... I just didn't like the lengths of chain used as extensions.
Just one disadvantage as far as I am aware... galv isn't suitable for a forestay with hank-on sails as the piston hanks will wear the zinc.