Standing rigging maintenance?

[Dangen]

The picture is from a 2016 Jeanneau that we chartered in Florida.
Happens that I just had all the standing rigging done in 316 for my boat to be installed this spring. I'm sailing in fresh water now but when I'll be in salt water, how do I keep this rust from happening?

[Sailmonkey]

This is just my opinion, but that sort of rust is unavoidable. Our new 316 standing rigging showed candy stripe rust from day one. It hasn't gotten worse and is purely cosmetic (I've shortened some wires so had a close look inside the himod fittings as well as the wire. My theory is the dies used to make the wire leave just enough steel "film" on the wire to show up as this discoloration.

[Stu Jackson]

Uhm, you clean it. Also a good idea to "service" your chainplates regularly, an oft-avoided task that most don't realize is part of regular preventative maintenance.

[krisb007]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Uhm, you clean it. Also a good idea to "service" your chainplates regularly, an oft-avoided task that most don't realize is part of regular preventative maintenance.

Stu- how do you "service" your chainplates? Can you expand on that please.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by krisb007

Stu- how do you "service" your chainplates? Can you expand on that please.

Pull, inspect, clean, re-bed. We've done this once in our 8 years of ownership, My self imposed inspection schedule is nearing again....

[TheWatchman]

Today's '316 Stainless Wire' offered in America is almost exclusively manufactured in China. The problem with Chinese metals is the Quality Control and outright fraud in specification reporting.

The properties of the alloys used in manufacture are considerably below the rigging that was manufactured in the US 30 years ago.

My suggestion is to research manufacturers that are fabricating in Europe and have strict standards for quality.

The price is about twice what you would typically pay today, but you get what you pay for.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by krisb007

Stu- how do you "service" your chainplates? Can you expand on that please.

Thanks to sailmonkey for his reply #5.

Like this:

C34 mark 2 chain plates leaking - Chainplate flix

[SV DestinyAscen]

Clean and lube. My guess is that the connector traps standing water that prevents the steel from being exposed to oxygen.

[roverhi]

If possible, end for end your wire so the swages have an equal amount of time with the swages down and up. Surface corrosion happens and all you can do clean it if it bothers you. Oxalic acide is great for removing rust stains.

[neilpride]

Wichinox passivating paste do the trick ....

[SecondBase]

Melt wax down into the fittings with a grill lighter and a candle. (a preventative not a cure). No water means cutting off all that winter "freeze heaving" within your lower fittings. Less air means reduced oxidation. Wax is perhaps an out of print technique - interested in the forum's diverse opinions on this approach as well.

[david samuelson]

Sometimes it is not the cable itself that is the culprit. If there is a rusting soft iron washer or wire (maybe holding the shroud into the spreader tip) etc. at the top of the 'Dirty' shroud, this staining will run down and collect at the bottom.

[UNCIVILIZED]

One of the best preventatives is to keep the rig clean. Both via regular washings with fresh water, & trips aloft to wipe everything down. Monthly works, though weekly is better. And usually just a clean rag, diaper, or chamois does the trick. Plus it lets you keep abrest of the condition of everything.