treating galvanised rigging

[lilianroyle]

I have just bought new galvanised standing rigging and wondered what you might recommend as a treatment before putting it up.
thanks in advance
Pete

 

[Gordonmc]

I remember reading a recipe some time ago which involved Stockholm Tar and boiled linseed oil, but on the basis life is too short for stuffing mushrooms I went for Waxoyl.
Its a wax suspended in white spirit. Heated, it goes runny and penetrates the wire strands applied by brush. Its used primarily for car rustproofing and is obtainable from a motor factors. The aerosol sprays are expensive... look for the 5 litre tins.

 

[Peterduck]

There are a number of possibilities; The one that I like best is a liquid made by Shell Oil, called Ensis. It is made for mothballing machinery, especially naval shipping. It comes in about four or five grades, varying from clear to black. The one that I used was SDC, the lightest grade. When applied, it is a thin oily liquid which penetrates to the heart of the wire rope. When it dries it becomes a grease which prevents the ingress of salty water. Heavier grades dry to a bitumen. Any of these would do well.
Peter.

 

[stephenh]

New galvanised wire has a surface that does not allow much to stick to it for any length of time. By leaving it exposed to the air this will erode after a few months.( So rig your boat and let the weather do its bit !)
Then degrease with white spirit or whatever.
Above posts advice will leave your wire with a 'greasy' finish - your well dressed guests will not appreciate this!
Mix boiled linseed oil / varnish @ 3:1 and wipe this into the wire. Leave.Repeat every 2/3mths at first and then yearly It will go off and not rub off onto clothes etc.
But , you say, I won't be able reach all the wire - this is OK as it is the bottom part that gets rusty first .The next time you lower your mast you can do the lot.
Good luck
stephenh
PS If you want to do it all now I am told that there is a galvanising etcher that wipes on and evaporates off.

 

[Mirelle]

That's the mixture that I use. 3 parts boiled oil to one part end-of-old-can-of-varnish. Set the rigging up horizontal and brush it on.

 

[twisterkai]

Many moons ago when I re-rigged my first boat, I bought several lengths of cheap plastic guttering, filled it with the 3:1 (boiled linseed/varnish) and then put the rigging in. I think it was left for about a week - mind wandered onto garboards etc. Anyway, after that it was just wiped over annually.

 

[dur]

I tried the Waxoyl for a couple of years. It worked well but I did end up with a dark stain on the sail. I go for the varnish / linseed oil combo now.

 

[zyxeal0]

any rigging in salt water environment is very prone to strong galvanic action so all the galvanising slides into the sea on a 24/7 basis ALL THE TIME chain plates and fittings all go the same way oils etc will slow the process Anodes and correct wirings of all these at risk fittings will almost stop the slipy slide but its a tricky process to get the balance right and not get a break in the circuit like the xmas lights one bulb blows...