Uk to Med via French canals and new standing rigging at Med end?

[davethedog]

Hello all,

We are looking to head to the Med mid 2019 and are considering going via the French canals.

We will obviously have to have our mast unstepped and transported to the Med end and does anyone know if at the med end of the canals we could have new standing rigging fitted at that stage? Reason being we are going to change the standing rigging at some stage and this could save a mast removal in the UK prior to going, only for it to be taken down again soon after.

We will also look to get the current rigging checked anyway.

DTD

 

[DownWest]

Likely you will find it cheaper to get the rigging in the UK and take it with you, even with the complication of measuring it standing.

 

[Tranona]

There is merit in getting it done here both for cost and security reasons. There are of course many yards in SofF that could do the job but can't see any value in waiting until you get there.

The advantage of doing it here is that you can see it all being done, know that it is done properly and that knowledge will help you have a trouble free unstepping and stepping on the other side. Everything will have been freed off, you will know how it all fits together and how to set it up when you restep.

 

[dunedin]

Take mast off at start of trip. Give old rigging to a U.K. rigger to make up new version at leisure. Travel through canal with bare mast (neater and less to get in way). Take rigging down to SoF before putting mast back up. ?

 

[steve yates]

It's pieces of wire, I can't see it makes much difference whether it is measured and fitted here or in france, can't imagine there is a different skill level from an english rigger to a french one. Even if there is much cost difference, then it will surely be swallowed up by the charge to drop and restep your mast here?

Makes perfect sense to me to do it at the other end, unless the language is a major barrier. That, or if costs were significantly higher, would be the only reasons I could see to not do it.

Any problems with it from the start, much better to be down there in the med end and enjoying the sun while you get it sorted, than pissing about somewhere on the south coast, held up before you have even started.

 

[LadyInBed]

Cost and choice of riggers will depend on the route you are taking, Rhone or Midi.