Standing Rigging Replacement - How Frequently?

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by pushstudios

There was a recent article in Sail mag regarding Dyneema rigging. One of it's strengths is that it isn't supposed to stretch much after it's been 'pre-stretched'. Tensile strength is supposed to be much higher than ss.

I wonder how long in the tropics before UV is a problem with synthetic?

That is one problem you don't have with stainless.

[DeValency]

Originally Posted by mako

And what about the idea of switching from stainless wire to galvanized wire rigging?

You should be joking...

[CassidyNZ]

I don’t believe that the average rigger thinks standing rigging needs to be replaced every ten years.

My rigger was astonished when I asked him years ago to begin the process of cycling my rig through a replacement programme. He inspected the rig and gave me a letter to present to my insurers saying that in his view my rig was in excellent condition and didn’t need replacement. When the laughing stopped they said “replace it anyway”.

The rigger gave me a substantial discount so that he could keep the wire he removed from my boat and I’m reasonably sure he used it all again on boats belonging to poorer sailors than me. When the new and old wires were lying side by side on the jetty it was really hard to tell the difference. I’ve kept one of the cap shrouds to use as a spare but really haven’t figured out where to store it on my boat.

[Quebramar]

Originally Posted by CassidyNZ

The rigger gave me a substantial discount so that he could keep the wire he removed from my boat and I’m reasonably sure he used it all again on boats belonging to poorer sailors than me. When the new and old wires were lying side by side on the jetty it was really hard to tell the difference.

That was smarter than me. I had the rig replaced after 18y (had bought the boat 3y before), rigger said everything was perfect for the existing one. I bet that was a good deal for him. [emoji848]

I had read much about rig useful life and some horror stories also... My intentions were safety and peace of mind, a feeling that was $2.5k worth. In view of the boat value and potential damage that was small to me, but I would say this is highly subjective.

I think location and type of sailing including size of sails should be part of the thinking. Coastal in higher latitude without spi and no racing is much softer indeed.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

The wire in my rig looks good as well. It is original from 1977. The issue is mostly not the wire but the swages, particularly the lower ones. You can never tell what is happening in there.

I am replacing my rigging with 316 stainless and Hayn HiMods on the lower end, swages on the upper end.

As I posted earlier my 44 year old wire looks good. But Neither I nor a rigger can see into the swages. That is the larger issue.

A swage can look perfect but still be corroded inside. There is not always any warning of failure.

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by CassidyNZ

I don’t believe that the average rigger thinks standing rigging needs to be replaced every ten years.

My rigger was astonished when I asked him years ago to begin the process of cycling my rig through a replacement programme. He inspected the rig and gave me a letter to present to my insurers saying that in his view my rig was in excellent condition and didn’t need replacement. When the laughing stopped they said “replace it anyway”.

The rigger gave me a substantial discount so that he could keep the wire he removed from my boat and I’m reasonably sure he used it all again on boats belonging to poorer sailors than me. When the new and old wires were lying side by side on the jetty it was really hard to tell the difference. I’ve kept one of the cap shrouds to use as a spare but really haven’t figured out where to store it on my boat.

I had been able to coil mine into about a 2' circle individually and press it against the hull in the port cockpit locker. This is on a 27' boat. I rerigged myself in a bit of a hurry so I brought it all with me since the new rig felt "untested".

- AT

[Searles]

Having a lifetime in the trade from Galveston wire to steel rod with welded ends to 1-19 ss wire and die form all standing rigging is subject to harmonic vibration by just standing in the weather ,laying in a shed dry and warm will not destroy any rigging no matter how many years ,you cannot see or detect harmonic fatigue in ss wire ,10 years is an arbitrary time decided by the insurance industry ,it’s just part of the cost of owing a sailing vsl not a boggy ,compaired to loosing your entire rig and possibly your life .⛵️⚓️

[Lodbrog1]

If in doubt - change it out.....You will sleep better and sail more comfortably when it gets stinky...Bon Vente

[DeValency]

A former boat purchased came with her original 28 years Selden rigging. Two separate surveyors spent a good hour up and down the mast and couldn’t find a trace of a potential risk of failure. To add to this, my former European and a global leading insurer never asked for the rigging replacement with any of my former boats policies, while cruising internationally. Unfortunately, this insurer no longer accept US boats.

Nevertheless, I always replaced at the 10-15 years range, regardless any surveying and of course that 28 years old original rigging.

I don’t have the industry numbers, but my sense is that way more sailboats sink or experience a major damage due to plumbing issues that cost a fraction of a new rigging to keep in shape. Yet, the carriers ask nothing about it.

And I don’t want to discuss motor boats ridiculous insurance policies...

Why rigging? Because they can.

[CassidyNZ]

Originally Posted by Atcowboy

I had been able to coil mine into about a 2' circle individually and press it against the hull in the port cockpit locker. This is on a 27' boat. I rerigged myself in a bit of a hurry so I brought it all with me since the new rig felt "untested".

- AT

Being a 27ft boat, your wire is most likely not 10mm and 40ft long. The circle on mine when coiled is more like 4ft and is surprisingly heavy.

[and4ew]

I appreciate all the comments and info. My insurance company has never mentioned the rigging specifically but does require a survey every three years. I guess Canadian insurers see things differently, perhaps because of the short season and cooler temperatures as mentioned by several posters. When I get back to the boat it'll have been on the hard for two years so I will do an inspection. Fortunately all the chain plates are easily accessible. I realize that there are other parts to check out, and there are some things that just can't be seen. When we get into some longer trips I will look at replacing. Thanks everyone!

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by CassidyNZ

Being a 27ft boat, your wire is most likely not 10mm and 40ft long. The circle on mine when coiled is more like 4ft and is surprisingly heavy.

You be have lines that are only 40 feet? Lower shrouds? Mine coiled down to about 2-2.5' but were heavy also, but over 40 feet.

I've read about people using the same wire for their life lines to carry a spare, but that seems problematic... I'd like to see a boat where that is actually done. I think carrying some spare dyneema to sub in, even if your rigging is all stainless, is much more practical.

-AT

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by DeValency

I don’t have the industry numbers, but my sense is that way more sailboats sink or experience a major damage due to plumbing issues that cost a fraction of a new rigging to keep in shape. Yet, the carriers ask nothing about it.

Definitely something to keep up with and very often ignored. I replaced all the 41 year old hoses in my boat before launching after I bought it. I was able to push a flat head through the cockpit drain hoses easily, and one ripped off the seacock when I was trying to pull it off. Hoses can easily sink a boat.

- AT

[CassidyNZ]

Originally Posted by Atcowboy

You be have lines that are only 40 feet? Lower shrouds? Mine coiled down to about 2-2.5' but were heavy also, but over 40 feet.

I've read about people using the same wire for their life lines to carry a spare, but that seems problematic... I'd like to see a boat where that is actually done. I think carrying some spare dyneema to sub in, even if your rigging is all stainless, is much more practical.

-AT

Sorry that was a typo that I never saw. Cap shrouds are 54ft, not 4ft.😊

I’m really surprised that on a 27ft boat you would have shrouds over 40ft long? That would imply that your mast is nearly twice the length of the boat. Wow. Also, I’ve never seen a boat with 10mm lifelines - I think mine (when I had wire lifelines) were 4mm. I now have solid rails all round of 25mm SS tube.

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by CassidyNZ

Sorry that was a typo that I never saw. Cap shrouds are 54ft, not 4ft.😊

I’m really surprised that on a 27ft boat you would have shrouds over 40ft long? That would imply that your mast is nearly twice the length of the boat. Wow. Also, I’ve never seen a boat with 10mm lifelines - I think mine (when I had wire lifelines) were 4mm. I now have solid rails all round of 25mm SS tube.

I can't find my notes right now, but I'm pretty sure the fore and aft stays are over 40ft. I think my life line was like 1/4" so pretty small and also 7*19 so not as strong as rigging.

In this life line hypothetical, you'd make your life lines out of the same wire rope as your rigging so you would have spare wow, not try to utilize the existing wire as spare. I read about it in a book of like "2 billion offshore tricks" and think it was a mental experiment not something written from experience.

- AT