Standing rigging

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Elemental

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The time has come to replace the standing rigging on my boat (Ben. Oceanis 351). It's still sporting the original (1993) and I've been meaning to change it since I bought the boat. However after a halyard wrap on the genoa furler I took a trip up the mast to resolve the wrap issue (basically re-reeve the halyard through the halyard fairlead that was already in place...). Unfortunately, the forestay wire has been 'unwound' some so that the lay is not good and has some permenant damage. So that's the decision made.

The boat's based at Woolverstone and I'd like some recs for good value rig suppliers. My time is always at a premium so I'd like to avoid doing any more than is necessary. Woolverstone will lift the mast and strip the rig, and restep the mast. How much work is involved in setting the rig up properly with the new wire? Is it easy is it to do myself or am I better paying the premium for a company like Rig Magic to do everything for me?

Also, does anyone know how much I should expect to pay for
1. The wire & terminals
2. The setup.

Oh, I need to get it sorted in time for the pirate weekend...

Cheers

Mark
 
The two that consistently get mentioned are Rig Magic and TS Rigging at Maldon... don't think you'd go far wrong with either...

budget wise, i'm in a very similar position, and have been exploring... costs look like they'll be between £1500 and £2000 for an Oceanis 400 of '93 vintage plus mast step and unstep costs
 
If you want to price up the parts have a look at S3i
I think that you can send them the old rigging and thay will make you a set to match.
They have just made a set for me to my specification.

If you want to set it up yourself you need to check what tension it is under now. That is assuming that you are happy with the existing setup.
Is she heavy on the helm?
Is the rigging tight when close hauled when you are thinking of putting in a reef?

If the wires are between 5mm & 7mm, I have a tension gauge you can check with.

Once the mast is back up it will take an hour or 2 to get it all adjusted some where near and some sailing and more adjustment to get it just so.

The riggers will sort it all for you but I would think that you would be pushing things to be sure of getting sorted by the end of this month.
 
Which reminds me. "Foxes buying power means they can provide big discounts" but in my experience don't.

"what price would it be for a 100 m reel of 14 mm multiplat?" "That would be 100 times X sir".
 
[ QUOTE ]
Which reminds me. "Foxes buying power means they can provide big discounts" but in my experience don't.

"what price would it be for a 100 m reel of 14 mm multiplat?" "That would be 100 times X sir".

[/ QUOTE ]

I found Foxes cheaper than Shotley, though the chap at Shotley chandlers is very jolly and helpful.
 
I have only ever replaced standing rigging once and that was with TS Rigging at maldon. Very helpful and competitive on price. No complaints at all.
 
Fred Larkman at Larkmans (Melton, River Deben) is very good on rigging and excellent value. I understand he does work offsite too, but of course that yard is particularly skilled and efficient when it comes to lifting out, taking the mast down etc. Tel. 01394 382943
 
We were competely re-rigged by Foxs in 2007.
Very professional job indeed.
I spent quite a while going through everything that was to be done beforehand and getting discount percentages sorted. As for discounts, we had no problems there. Rope was very very cheap (as Sailorman says) but the rigging wire, fittings, winches etc all had varying decent levels of discounts. Even got the masts/booms cheaper going through them rather than from Z Spars direct.
They are also sailing people so they understand what is needed.
They obviously work on the rigs on the Oysters but also do Beneteaus quite regularly as Foxs Yacht Sales sell them so may have done one of yours before.
Wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
If you want to know more or see the standard of their work on Mermaid, let me know.
Cheers
D
 
Have used both Rig Magic and TS Rigging. 'Big Nige' is something of a local legend, especially with the racing fraternity as he has 'been there and done that' in campaigning his own boats. I took the old rig fromf my (then) Dehler 34 (single spreader fractional) down to him and picked up the new rig soon afterwards. I re-fitted. Surprisingly reasonable cost (under £400, incl bottlescrews - 7 years ago)

This year on my Dehler 35CWS TS Rigging renewed the 15-year-old rig (double spreader fractional, twin backstays) . I dropped off, picked up & re-fitted again, except they stripped & re-fitted the forestay to the furler. £900-ish, excl bottlescrews.

Both excellent service & quality.

Hope this helps.
 
[ QUOTE ]

If you want to set it up yourself you need to check what tension it is under now. That is assuming that you are happy with the existing setup.
Is she heavy on the helm?
Is the rigging tight when close hauled when you are thinking of putting in a reef?


[/ QUOTE ]
This is the part that I'm unsure about (setting things up). I've just never done it. The leeward stays do go slack(ish) in a blow, but the boat sails fine. Should there be an obviously perceivable difference in tensions windward to leeward?

The yard will step the mast and "make it safe" (their words) but their rigger is off sick for a few weeks. I don't mind stripping the old wire and fitting new, and it seems to me that there would be a fairly worthwhile financial benefit in doing so but I would like it done 'right'. Maybe my best plan is to get the job done professionally this time and then note the rig tensions for the future.
[ QUOTE ]

If the wires are between 5mm & 7mm, I have a tension gauge you can check with.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's very kind of you. I see you're in Cambridge so if I'm headed down to the boat soon I may contact you.

Cheers

Mark
 
[ QUOTE ]
Fred Larkman at Larkmans (Melton, River Deben) is very good on rigging and excellent value. I understand he does work offsite too, but of course that yard is particularly skilled and efficient when it comes to lifting out, taking the mast down etc. Tel. 01394 382943

[/ QUOTE ]

Fred did ours last year. £600 for a fractional rig, single spreader, mast about 13 metre in length.

Excellent job. They are getting less busy at Larkmans with launching so he might have time available.

John
 
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