My 1985 Hunter 34 has a slight rust staining around the terminals of the standing rigging. Other than the slight stain there is no sign of actual corrosion, broken wires or anything that would indicate a weakening of the cables. Is this stain just a harbinger of trouble to come in the future or do I need to change out all of the standing rigging on my boat ASAP?
When to replace standing rigging
- Thread starter Found at Sea
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As Nike used to say: Just Do It.
What with 20 years being a reasonable outer limit, and most riggers calling for 10 to 15 years in salt water, yours should have been done in 2005.
Oh Yeah, you're beyond time for a new standing rig.
When you find Visible corrosion, you can figure that there's deterioration that you cannot see, as well.
Be safe - personally and your family and friends as well.
A rig failure is not any fun at all, even when you get real lucky and no one gets injured. (Been there and done that.... and once was enough, thankyouverymuch.)
Loren
What with 20 years being a reasonable outer limit, and most riggers calling for 10 to 15 years in salt water, yours should have been done in 2005.
Oh Yeah, you're beyond time for a new standing rig.
When you find Visible corrosion, you can figure that there's deterioration that you cannot see, as well.
Be safe - personally and your family and friends as well.
A rig failure is not any fun at all, even when you get real lucky and no one gets injured. (Been there and done that.... and once was enough, thankyouverymuch.)
Loren
Dear FoundAtSea:
With winds often howling in the Carquinez Straight area, if you suspect the condition of your standing rigging, you are taking a risk every time out.
I had a near catastrophic rig failure this summer only 6-7 years after the standing rigging was professionally replaced. Not from the what was replaced, but from what the rigger did not replace. Here is a link to a thread about my failure. After reading the opening post, see further up in the responses, pictures and discussion on the part that failed.
You don't say how long your rigging has been in service. If you don't know what PO's might have done, but suspect it's been a very long time, it's possible you have hidden stress cracks and weaknesses that aren't evident with visual inspection. The only way to be sure is to do a proper replacement of everything "standing rigging". Anyway, them's my thoughts. But another option is to contact a professional rigger and ask for a rig inspection. They can make the call for you.
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1041883&highlight=toggle
With winds often howling in the Carquinez Straight area, if you suspect the condition of your standing rigging, you are taking a risk every time out.
I had a near catastrophic rig failure this summer only 6-7 years after the standing rigging was professionally replaced. Not from the what was replaced, but from what the rigger did not replace. Here is a link to a thread about my failure. After reading the opening post, see further up in the responses, pictures and discussion on the part that failed.
You don't say how long your rigging has been in service. If you don't know what PO's might have done, but suspect it's been a very long time, it's possible you have hidden stress cracks and weaknesses that aren't evident with visual inspection. The only way to be sure is to do a proper replacement of everything "standing rigging". Anyway, them's my thoughts. But another option is to contact a professional rigger and ask for a rig inspection. They can make the call for you.
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1041883&highlight=toggle
I just went through this on our 10 year old boat and decided to replace all the rigging. We did not have any visible rust, no broken wire, some small specks of corrosion on the swagged fittings.
I see that Hunter recommends replacing the rigging every 10 years in the Great Lakes and every 2 to 3 years in the Caribbean.........there are huge differences in the quotes to replace the rigging, they have very good prices on new rigging on this site.
Bob
http://www.marlow-hunter.com/export...0-466 Hunter/460 Tuning the H460 B&R Rig.pdf
I see that Hunter recommends replacing the rigging every 10 years in the Great Lakes and every 2 to 3 years in the Caribbean.........there are huge differences in the quotes to replace the rigging, they have very good prices on new rigging on this site.
Bob
http://www.marlow-hunter.com/export...0-466 Hunter/460 Tuning the H460 B&R Rig.pdf
Contact Seco South in Fl. Good prices, quality and service. May be less than half of local prices.
I also used Seco South. They did the original rigging on my boat so sent them the old rigging, they sent back new and it fit perfectly. When I checked prices they were significantly less than the others. Still check for yourself but if it's close I recommend you use them. My rigging was 18 years old and was still functioning. Turns out one wire had a strand broken we didn't see until it was down. It was because it wore against another wire at some point unknown to us because we were new owners.
The PVC tubes which cover the turnbuckles and protect the jib lines are just beginning to crack and chip. I can't imagine that those would even be in one piece if the rigging was the original 1984. I would think that the rig was changed out at some point just don't know when.
It could be that somebody has changed out the turnbuckle covers rather than the rigging.
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