That's why I've calculated the average maintenance costs for four different types of boat below: Your specific maintenance cost will vary depending on what type of boat you have and how you'll use it. When the rig is tuned the wires are stretched. You can take a masthead halyard from side to side to ensure that the masthead is on center. Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. The theory is that it can take 10 to 15 years of cycling, but this continual motion when its unloaded is what fatigues the wire, Madden says. This is a quick and easy job for a rigger to do and covers can be replaced each season rather than discarding the rope. Overall condition is good with some kinks here and there. Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! If you follow directions, they are fairly straightforward to install, although not especially easy. Theres such a safety margin in rigging. Hi, I'm Shawn, and when I was 2 years old, I was sailing (with my parents) on the English Channel during a proper storm (and by proper I mean something along the lines of force 10). Replacement of the rigging components is more frequent and based on inspection. Dear improvesailing.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-supported by facts and figures. If the leeward shroud flops around underway, the constant flexing will weaken the metal over time and make it more prone to fail. Low-cost tension gauges are now available and are a useful addition to your cruising toolbox anyway. Plus, this line won't harden with age. We replaced the line AND the sheave box to ensure that the new halyard wont chafe. Saltwater is a lot more corrosive, and the stress on your rigging and sails will be higher. Theres a rule of thumb, but it varies rigger to rigger, says Steve Madden, co-owner of M Yacht Services in Annapolis and the head of its M Rigging division. Check and make sure the sheaves run freely, that the bearings are not worn oval and that the retaining pins are secure. The fastest route to crevice corrosion is to cover the metal with plastic or leather turnbuckle covers or to coat the fittings in tape. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. I agree with a general average of 20 years for replacing the standing rigging. I recently sailed on a boat that had rust around the wire/swage on all the shrouds. When we brought our Oday 25 home ,I knew judging from the lack of care the previous owner shown the rigging might also be suspect. Exhausted In Singapore, For All the Wrong Reasons, Cruising World Takes Multiple Honors in Annual Writing and Photography Contest. I cant understand why they wanted 75 feet for the main as I still have 25-30 feet even when the main sheet is eased all the way. Also, there are a lot of costs you can save on substantially if you do simple maintenance yourself or have a simple boat. Seems like a lot for a 40' boat. Most racers that use stripped cover halyards are diligent about inspecting these lines and some even replace them every season. That history will affect what kind of life you get out of your standing rigging. Some insurance companies, he says, will require a re-rig if youre purchasing a used boat that has standing rigging older than 15 years. [1] 2. The average annual maintenance cost of sailboats is between $2,000 - $3,000. It will always be a judgment call. Below, I'll go over four different situations and explain what type of maintenance you'll most likely will and won't do, and what the price tag is for each situation. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500. For a medium-sized boat (30-50 feet), the cost will be somewhere between $2000 and $4000. Cleat the jib off on the port side of the mast and the main on the starboard. Read more about the cost of replacing risers and manifolds here. Just because a line or even the whole boat is new, doesnt mean there isnt something wrong with the running rigging. Keep your sailboats mast securely in place by carefully inspecting all of your spars components and replacing parts before you have a breakdown. For all of these reasons, most riggers agree that when your sailboats standing rigging approaches 15 years old, its a good time to consider replacing it. The Rigging Company gears much of its sales to DIY sailors and is beginning an e-commerce site to cater specifically to handy individuals. So here are some tips and things to look for so that you can replace your running rigging before it breaks. The Estimated Costs of Replacing a Jibs and Genoas Sails for boats measuring 42' to 50' can cost around $5,500-$9,000 Sails for boats measuring 36' to 42' can cost around $4,000-$7,000 Sails for boats measuring 32' to 36' can cost around $3,000-$5,000 Sails for boats measuring 24' to 32' can cost around $2,500-$4,000 At least once a year, at the beginning or end of the sailing season, you should visually inspect all of your running rigging and look for signs of wear. Why do you want to suddenly replace all your running rigging? If you suspect a possible crack, try running some dye over itthe crack will become much more obvious that way. It's also called antifouling paint because it helps to protect your hull from weeds, barnacles, and so on. Deep cycle batteries (which are best for household functionality) need replacing every 4-6 years and will cost roughly $600. Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two). The number one destroyer of line is chafe. Before long this will create slack in the rig, generating bends and stresses elsewhere. Did you find the answer to your specific question? The boat owner or previous rigger had clearly replaced the old line without looking for the source of the chafe. And if you get a young, strong, enthusiastic gorilla on a halyard winch, he could pull the headboard out of the sail, damage the sheave at the masthead or pull the turning block at the base of the mast out of the deck. Good question. Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years. Do a few turns on one side before going to the other and applying an equal number. I think another factor to consider is how much of the "life time" of the rigging was spent with the boat in the water and the mast up. Sailboat rigging very rarely fails from being overloaded. You can see that the chafe is only occurring on one side of the line, the side that comes in contact with the sheave. Your costs will range from a couple of hundred dollars for a small outboard up to over a thousand for a large or difficult to reach inboard. However, larger boats of 30 feet and up will cost considerably more. Listing Results for Shore Support & Services, Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde Account. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat. I dont want be a scaremonger, but standing rigging has so many possible failure points that regular inspections should really be part of every pre-cruise integrity check. For over 40 years we have specialized in manufacturing standing rigging for all of the major sailboat manufacturers nationwide. They aren't even worn enough to require end-for ending yet. That was a case of not knowing that the worst thing you can do to standing rigging is have it loose on the leeward side, he says. Tensioning them will be done later in the rigging sequence. 34' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $3,000 - $5,000. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. The idea is you come on deck with this small canvas bag and make it happen, Cockerill says. As for sources of wire and fittings, there are many, including major chandleries and vendors, like West Marine and Defender, as well as some private riggers, like Annapolis Rigging and the Rigging Company, which will work with you to define what you need and help you source parts and materials. The typical sheets for a low-tech, limited budget sailer is single braid Dacron. I found some tests that some SBO folks had done many years ago on the O'Day 25's standing rigging. and about a 200' " anchor .line. Its good enough to get you to safety and someplace you can make a more permanent repair. Riggers say very few sailors re-rig from wire to rod or the reverse, but if switching is on your mind, have a professional make a full assessment first. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Check out my guide on standing rigging here! That said, some sailors prefer wire over rod for a number of reasons. They might have swollen, so the new will appear to be a smaller gauge. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Chafe usually happens gradually over long periods of time and it is only a serious problem when it goes unnoticed. As you can see, most of these costs are longterm recurring maintenance costs. Money well spent. NEW FLAT SCREEN 43' TV IN THE SALON - 2019. Installing the new standing rigging is simple for a trailer sailor after the mast is unstepped. Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. Use nylon 3-Strand for anchor, dock, mooring and tow lines or polyester 3-strand for running rigging on traditional cruising boats. Probably the trickiest will be the forestay and backstay, as these carry the greatest loads, although all the standing rigging can be loosened to some degree when at rest. Regardless of how it happened, the integrity of the line has been compromised and it needs to be replaced. If the existing is frayed and faded - then a decision should be made to contract a rigger, preferably to x) inspect and give a written report on the condition of all the running rigging; to y) provide a written quotation to supply and fit new line; to z) provide a written quotation to replace sheeves and other running rigging components with new. Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so. If you own a bluewater cruiser, your maintenance cost will go up a lot. The diameter of the sheets and halyards will depend on what fits the blocks that you have. A detailed rig check takes no more than two hours or so to completeabout as long as it takes to provision the boat with a weeks food suppliesonly the result of not doing it can be a good deal more drastic! Additionally, a DIY sailor needs to do plenty of research, particularly when it comes to wire quality, which is something professional sailboat rigging companies watch like hawks. Running rigging varies between vessels that are rigged fore and aft and those that are square-rigged. How Much Does it Cost to Dock a Boat for a Year? We are cruisers who sail around 500 nm per year, and are able to avoid frequent encounters with heavy weather by laying over if storms are in the offing. We are a proud supplier of Yale Cordage. You can also use sacrificial covers to protect halyards from clutch damage,. For those with external halyard blocks, check to make sure all lines run freely and that block bearings arent worn. If your boat is in a full cradle, however, this shouldnt be an issue. Either way, Jimmie Cockerill, co-owner of the Rigging Company in Annapolis, recommends that for a sailboat with wire rigging, the mast should be pulled and all fittings and wire visually inspected every five to six years. Check the deck around the chainplates and mast for cracking and delamination. Today, with the advent of super-strong synthetic line such as AmSteel and Dyneema, the need for that extra wire and gear is eliminated. Strong, durable lines are essential for controlling the sails on your boat without risking your own safety, or that of the sails. You can't eliminate all risk on a sailboat and how to make that call will be different bassed on an individual's risk tollerance. Now would also be a good time to change those old cotter pins and circlip rings as well. If you don't have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners' association. Also look to see if there are any broken wires where the shroud enters the terminal. There are other wires out there that are cheaper, but theyre not guaranteed.. Regardless of what fittings you currently have the choice for multi-stranded wire rigging is between swaged terminals or mechanical fittings. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Leave each line with extra length, and coil the lines up. It rolls the end fitting through two opposing dies and compresses the fitting on the wire so tightly that it cant pull out. All standing rigging, whether rod or wire, has to end in a fitting that attaches to the deck and mast. There are so many variables in the system types of end fittings, types of masts, types of attachment points that each boat will have its own specific requirements that can affect cost. I'll explain how below. When we talk about sailboat rigging, we mean all the wires, ropes and lines that support the rig and control the sails. Stainless steel needs oxygen to prevent crevice corrosion, so dont overdo it with tape (left); enough to cover the cotter pin will suffice (center). Best Price Opti Running Rigging Sheets Halyard Line Sailboat Kit 100% Original + FREE Delivery discount activity gsmsharmaji.com, US $174 sail ties Lower Spirit Halyard 1 ea and shock cords One of the best ways to improve an aging Opti is to overhaul and replace all the running rigging Upper Spirit Halyard 1 ea, Free shipping on all orders . These carry a good deal of compression load, so check their roots for damage and make sure the spreaders arent bent in any waythey should exactly bisect the angle of the shroud. Check your spreaders, chainplates and turnbuckles for cracking, fatigue, missing cotter pins/rings, etc. This was rod rigging and increased the price quite a bit. It requires more careful consideration of condition, usage, and inspection for signs of failure. Also, you'll have plenty of time doing odd jobs yourself, since you'll be living on the boat. But Malizia is far from the only team struggling to keep their boat in good read more, Get your ground tackle setup right, and youll sleep much easier while youre cruising. The average price of used sailboats is $111,000, ranging from $19,000 to $518,000. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. Marine-suitable stainless wire is called 316 grade, but even that doesnt mean youre necessarily getting high-quality wire. My boat has been in fresh water all its life. rigbos.com our online store is a progression allowing us to more effisantly supply customer Members of ABYC . I would think at the first notice of a few broken strands in more than two of the wires. Its when the leeward side starts flopping around that youre asking for trouble., Stainless steel has a finite number of cycles essentially, movements, whether fore and aft or side to side. and about a 200 anchor .line. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. I just replaced all the rope running rigging on a Catalina 27 for about $300. Yes, its unlikely youll suffer a massive failure during normal coastal cruising, but it is good practice to spend a little time looking carefully at each element of your rig at least once a month, or before a cruise lasting more than a few daysparticularly if heavy weather is expected. Read more on boat engine replacement costs here. Every time I think Ive seen it all, my people outdo themselves and serve up the unexpected. Does that mean that replacement time for those is longer? One part of sailboats and yachts that must be inspected, maintained, or even replaced when necessary is the standing rigging. There are also a few spots where the chafe is more serious. Replacing your Standing Rigging with Jimmy Green Marine. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't had a trailer until last year so the mast was up through the winter. . Are the chainplates sound? how much fuel a sailboat uses in my article, ICC (International Certificate of Competence, Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Sailboat (With 4 Examples). Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Before you contemplate the task of renewing your standing rigging you need to thoroughly inspect all components at close quarters to find out exactly what needs to be replaced and what items can be safely transferred to the new rig. Double Braid: A braided core inside a braided cover. If in doubt, get a professional opinion. The November 1969 Modern Boating magazine . The new Dufour 37 slots in just above the 32-foot baby of the family, and it replaces the previous Dufour 360 from three years ago. The three most commonly used types of attachments are swaged and mechanical fittings for wire, and cold heads for rod. Polyester double braid works great for frequently adjusted lines, like main and jib sheets, or moderately loaded control lines. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Splices should be made by a professional, high tech line is very difficult to cut. The total maintenance cost for a small daytripper will average around $1,600 per year or $133 per month. Prices for new boats typically range from $100,000 to $500,000. Similarly, its easier to find usable replacement parts far from busy ports. Clean and lubricate them, then refasten them, and remember to mouse them with new galvanized wire and tape over the ends to avoid chafe. Your first thought may be to replace this old stuff with some of the bright new high tech line you can find in your local chandlery. Whether you want to replace aging and questionable rigging, be able to handle a wider range of weather conditions, or add sail trimming upgrades for more speed and better pointing to windward, this ebook will show you . First the desired end fitting is chosen (left), and the fitting is slid onto the end of the wire (center). Read more on the cost of antifouling your boat. Our sailboat running rigging includes sailboat mainsheets, sailboat halyards, and all major sailboat lines. A professional needs roughly 8 hours to get the job done. if it were wire you could get away for about half that price. After that, you'll need to change them out. Parts total: $600 on average Let's go over each type and break down which costs to expect exactly. If line is properly taken care of, it can last many decades. Likewise, if you already have wire with fittings that accommodate your boat and mast, stick with wire. Your sail area will most likely also be larger, which means your sail replacement will be more expensive. A stripped cover dyneema halyard is a great way to reduce the splice diameter and weight aloft for racers, however, they do have their downsides. You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime. Well, for starters, I'd recommend doing most small maintenance yourself and ignore all non-essential. Technical support for boat owners and maintenance yards servicing Sabre sail and motor yachts | Sabre Yachts Technical Support Contacts in Sabre's After Sales Service Department may be reached by calling 207-655-3831 or by filling in the contact form. These specific components likewise reinforce the spars against increased loads when wind interacts .