New Sails & Rigging Cost for a 40-50' Sailboat

[BillAU]

G'day mates,

I understand there are all kinds of ongoing "expense of maintenance" for "any" vessel but...Is it true, sails and rig need replacing about every 10 years for crusing sail-boats? And at todays prices, one could expecct a quote of around $70,000AU + (around $50,000US +) for sails and rig on a 40 to 50' sail-boat?

I would apprecate all replies from those that know, specially "Full-time live aboard folk".

Calm seas and good winds to all.

Bill

[Charlie]

Seems like a lot for a 40' boat. I have got quotes for sails for my 40' boat and they range from $8k for a jib and a main and I replaced the standing rigging on my boat. That cost me $10k. This was rod rigging and increased the price quite a bit. if it were wire you could get away for about half that price. Probably less if you did the work yourself. I have never heard of anyone replacing their mast after ten years. Except on a race boat.

[Hudson Force]

I've owned my 41' ketch for 25 years and I have replaced the standing rigging (shrouds only w/swedges) twice and the sails once. The main, 120 genoa and mizzen costs me about 6K in 1992 and my rigging replacements cost me about 2k on each occassion; however, I did ALL the work myself. I simply ordered the measured lengths and their swedge fittings. I did replace one chainplate of 12 over the 37 year age of the boat and I have had no need to replace turnbuckles, toggles, or masts over that time. I have inspected and refinished much of this hardware regularly. I think the high costs you hear of are only typical for owners that contract this tasks to professional rigging companies, not the approach that is typical for most fulltime liveaboard cruisers. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

[Ram]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

I've owned my 41' ketch for 25 years and I have replaced the standing rigging (shrouds only w/swedges) twice and the sails once. The main, 120 genoa and mizzen costs me about 6K in 1992 and my rigging replacements cost me about 2k on each occassion; however, I did ALL the work myself. I simply ordered the measured lengths and their swedge fittings. I did replace one chainplate of 12 over the 37 year age of the boat and I have had no need to replace turnbuckles, toggles, or masts over that time. I have inspected and refinished much of this hardware regularly. I think the high costs you hear of are only typical for owners that contract this tasks to professional rigging companies, not the approach that is typical for most fulltime liveaboard cruisers. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

Just wondering, how did you determine that the turnbucklres,toggles were good enough to use again??

[jkleins]

Rigging replaced this year for 38 foot sailboat 4K with installation. Sails quotes are running 6-7K for main and genoa.

Jim

[winterbuoy]

Just bought all new SS wire and HI MOD fittings for our Roberts 44 Offshore. Complete Mast and Mizzen from Rigging Only, $4500 including shipping. This is every part except chainplates.

[Pblais]

The rigging estimates seem to be running just under $5K US that is about the number I got for doing it too. Sails can be a little more or less depending on cut and materials. That still would make it well under $15K US for the good stuff. Consider adding a bat car system if you don't have one on the main. If you need a new mast then I have to wonder if the boat is worth keeping. You could add a new boom furling system for about $13K more.

[janders]

We just bought a new 7.3oz dacron 130 genoa, 10.3oz dacron staysail, and 9.3oz dacron in-mast furling main for our Caliber 40. The total cost for all three sails from UK Halsey was $7700.

Can't say about the rigging. We will probably be in the market for new standing rigging in the next year or so.

[Roaring Girl]

Couple of additional points:

there is an element of wear/time to replace which depends on what sort and where you sail - eg when we bought RG we knew we wanted to replace the standing rigging before we did anything serious off shore, but we sailed her around the English coast for 3 years before we did that, including some fairly hairy short-term moments. When we rerigged in 2006, it was about GBP3000, but we are a ketch!

Your insurers might have a view on length of time too.

Similarly lots of UV will shorten your sails' lives - so that will effect your budgets for replacement.

Secondly where you buy your sails can vary hugely in price. We bought a new main for our 40' ketch in 2008. We got quotes in the UK, France and China - and we could have bought two in China for the EU prices. The China one, including tax, delivery etc was around GBP1000. The other two quotes were both just over GBP2K. We are very happy with the quality of the sail. There were problems with the cover which they replaced free with no arguments.

Some people want their sail maker to do the first bending on etc, and that can be very useful. You do need to get your measurements absolutely right. But it's a huge saving to bear in mind when you make the decision.

So the budget you started this with seems very very high to me, even if you're not up for doing all the re-rigging yourself.

[jalopy]

I just replaced my sails and standing rigging. I went through Pro Marine Shop in Massachusetts and here is what they gave me. The quality and service were great and the price seemed to be the best.

Sails (Main and Roller Furling 135%) $5000
Standing Rigging $4800
Tide Marine Sail Track $1250
Lifelines $1000

I have a 42' Catalina and was looking for this for a while. We will see how they hold up but so far so good.

[BillAU]

G'day mates,

Thanks for all your replies, it's good to get answers straight from the horses mouth so to speak
I have been doing research on vessels of 40 to 50', i.e. Which were more suitable for live-aboard full-time use, before jumping in. I had become, almost, set in believing a 36 to 40' Trimaran would be best size-and-fit for me but...being a retired MV man (merchant service) I have kept the door open on which vessel, sail or MV, I would be better of with. I have no wish to buy in a rush then repent at leisure and, as I'm also a man of limited means, I need to be careful with my funds...don't we all
Anyway, during my research I found this site, World Crusing On A MV...On A Budget and that's where I found the "sail and rigging replacement costs" that started this thread. Philip, the owner of the site, may have, by accedent, entered an extra zero, but from what you "people who know" say...He's way out on the figure of $50,000US.

Again, thank you for responding with useful figures. They are a big help to anyone in that "make-your-mind-up...Before you buy" mode

Bill

PS. I also have another question, this one is on travel cost, so I think I'll post it under the Dollar and Cents section

[s/v Beth]

Just replaced rigging, deck and have prices on sails. I would probably count at least 7k for rigging and 10k for a almost new set of cruising sails. I pulled the chainplates off, cleaned them and took a good look at them. Replaced almost all of them due to pitting and cracks (after 35 years) But then again, i don't want to worry about them for another 35 years...

[cat man do]

Depends on boat, rig type, sail type, gear type and performance expectations and requirements.

My decision to go power over sail was based on quality alloy rotating mast, Anderson winches and mostly Antal fittings elsewhere, batcar system, square top cruiselam or similar sails, with screechers and kites in socks built by a multihull specialist sailmaker.

MainSail replacement every 5 to 7 years based on previous sail longevity, headsails similar.
Wire replacement every 5 years, forestay earlier again based on wire on previously owned vessel.

This worked out to be a pretty big number

Of course I could have put up a telegraph post with gal wire and second hand rags or cheap new ones, but for the style of vessel (performance multi capable of actually sailing in 5 knots of breeze) it would seem a pointless exercise and a lot of fuel can be bought for the cost of rig, sails and hardware and replacement.

[iiii]

Priced a new mast and rigging for a Valiant 40 a few years back and Valiant wanted $30000.

[BillAU]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Depends on boat, rig type, sail type, gear type and performance expectations and requirements.

My decision to go power over sail was based on quality alloy rotating mast, Anderson winches and mostly Antal fittings elsewhere, batcar system, square top cruiselam or similar sails, with screechers and kites in socks built by a multihull specialist sailmaker.

MainSail replacement every 5 to 7 years based on previous sail longevity, headsails similar.
Wire replacement every 5 years, forestay earlier again based on wire on previously owned vessel.

This worked out to be a pretty big number

Of course I could have put up a telegraph post with gal wire and second hand rags or cheap new ones, but for the style of vessel (performance multi capable of actually sailing in 5 knots of breeze) it would seem a pointless exercise and a lot of fuel can be bought for the cost of rig, sails and hardware and replacement.

G'day mate,

Would you mind sending me a PM about the power boat you have, is it a Trawler type or what and, do you plan on any Blue Water cruising? What size is your MV? I would like to talk with other crusing Aussie Power Boat owners and get more advice.

After reading these and many threads/post, I am just as confused as when I first started reading post and asking questions on which vesssel would best suit my needs.
I had come to believe a sail-boat, a Sea Runner Tri, would best suit my needs but another member pointed out that he was not so sure a Tri was the vessel for me and that member owns and loves "his" 37' Sea Runner Tri! Then a couple of days back I bumped into an old seamate of mine from our merchant marine days, Scottish Jim and he wanted me to burn some information onto a DVD for him, so we aranged a meeting at my place for me to do the job.
When my old mate turned-up later in the day, we got to talking about ships we had worked on and companies we had worked for.
I told my mate how I was planning on buying a 37 to 40' Tri, selling my home and living aboard the Tri full time...Up North!
My mate listened to me, then said, Bill, you bloody old fool, (Jim is a lot older than I so he's anciant) why buy a load of trouble for yourself? I said, Jim mate, we're all different and I "want" to get back to sea! Jim said, me too Bill! I would love to get back to sea, so I think you're right but...You're just picking the "wrong" boat! You should be looking at Timber or Steel Motor Vessels! Like me Bill, you know nothing about sailing "any" boat and I don't believe it's that easy to learn to sail! Besides...If you had to go to the top of a mast to do some work, how the hell would "you" get up there? And I'm talking about when you have the sail-boat tied-up at the dock! What would you do it you "had" to do that at sea? You'd be sunk!
Buy a boat Bill but buy a motor boat! Something you know something about! Get a wood or steel motor boat! Well! That's my advice! But you do what you like!

It was later that night that I found a site, Cruising Under Power, and that site got me thinking that my old sea-mate, Jim, "may" have been right. The site is about how a working class Australian bought and converted a Trawler and is now cruising Asia!
He points out that not all motor vessels are suitable for "long range cruising". He also says, Quote:
you need more and larger fuel tanks, water tanks, sewage holding tanks.
End Quote.

And that's where I have a little problem, here in Oz, or overseas, I can not find a diesel powered Trawler at 37 to 40' with long range tanks fitted, or the space to install them! But...There are plenty in Canada and the USA being offered (within my price bracket) and, the ones I've looked at are fully finished and capable of crossing the Pacific back to Oz but...They are "all" well over 40'! They are 47 to 50'! And most are built in Steel, which is okay by me but the size of 47 to 50' has me a bit worried!

Sorry for this post being so long, I'll try keeping them shorter in future.

Bill