Standing Rigging, How old before replacement?

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Rich M

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Nov 5, 2007
74
Hunter 28.5 Annapolis, MD
I have a 25 year old Hunter 28.5 that now has the stick down because I moved it from LI to the Chesapeake. Since it is down I had it inspected and although it looks its age is in reasonable condition. The mast needs paint, the lights could certainly stand to be updated along with the VHF antenna. BUT the quote to do all this almost matches the boats value. Trying to decide if I upgrade at all, or just put it all back up the way it is. I have not found a single broken strand in any of the wire, and the turn buckles also show their age, but no signs of cracking. Running rigging was replaced 5 years ago, and also remains very usable.

Am I missing something? Any suggestions / recommendations. Not going to rob a bank & do it all. Don`t race, just cruise.
 
Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
I just mailed mine out and had all new 316 wire and fittings with 9 new turnbuckles on a 29' (1970 boat and way old) for a bit over 1K

On my J24 (1981 original) it was about 700 dollars

In both cases to me it was well worth the piece of mind as it such a long term investment
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Same here. As the fourth owner I have no idea of the age of my standing rigging. Six shrouds, backstay, and forestay for under $800. That's just studs and eyes except for the forestay, my turnbuckles are good. The forestay is all new.
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
I am at this time starting to look hard at my standing rigging.......first i am inspecting the terminals on the upper end.....then the wire running down from there .....i am looking for the candy cane effect on the wire...meaning that rusty cables will creat that bleading through.....so far no candy cane and the upper terminals all look good no cracks or splits .....the lower terminals look not so good (as they should on a 31 year old boat)...so i am going to put on new for and aft stays...then take the old stays and cut them to the required length for the upper schrouds...then cut the old upper schrouds to match the longest lower schrouds...then take the longest old lower schrouds and make them match the shorter schrouds......using new swedged terminals on all that cutting and shifting on the lower ends...the turn buckels are in good shape.... threads and toggles......then with what is left over i am making new life lines out of the rest....any way that is the plan for now....in doing so i will have about 250.00 in materials......at this time i see no reason not to do this.......as some one said earler i dont plan on racing just cruseing.......

regards

woody
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
From Ed S., I have gotten great service from Seco South. Also bought lifelines from them. They are a Hunter Marine supplier.
 
Oct 26, 2005
2,057
- - Satellite Beach, FL.
I am at this time starting to look hard at my standing rigging.......first i am inspecting the terminals on the upper end.....then the wire running down from there .....i am looking for the candy cane effect on the wire...meaning that rusty cables will creat that bleading through.....so far no candy cane and the upper terminals all look good no cracks or splits .....the lower terminals look not so good (as they should on a 31 year old boat)...so i am going to put on new for and aft stays...then take the old stays and cut them to the required length for the upper schrouds...then cut the old upper schrouds to match the longest lower schrouds...then take the longest old lower schrouds and make them match the shorter schrouds......using new swedged terminals on all that cutting and shifting on the lower ends...the turn buckels are in good shape.... threads and toggles......then with what is left over i am making new life lines out of the rest....any way that is the plan for now....in doing so i will have about 250.00 in materials......at this time i see no reason not to do this.......as some one said earler i dont plan on racing just cruseing.......

regards

woody
Woody,
Sounds like a good plan Woody.
How will you swedge the terminals? I ask because I'm contemplating renewing my rigging and like your shifting approach.
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
Woody,
Sounds like a good plan Woody.
How will you swedge the terminals? I ask because I'm contemplating renewing my rigging and like your shifting approach.
Merlinuxo....i am going the the supplier and have them swedge them....the terminals for what i am doing will be about $112.00 before tax ( 7 lower terminals) not sure what they will charge as of yet ...but it is prolly a win thing for them in the liabilty as it will be done under my supervision not theres...but i am confident that they will do it correctly as they do swedging all the time......one thing i have learned about sailing is you have to be very frugel or you will sink the money ship:eek:.......;).....

regards

woody
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Woody:

Check out Seco South. Their prices are much better than anyone we had found. They use quality products and seem to have good service.

We just got new lifelines from them with all new Johnson pelican hooks.

You can send them your old stuff and they can duplicate it (be sure to mark each piece).
 
Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
Rich: I'm in the same boat (smile) as you: 25 yr old H28.5 which probably has the OEM rigging. Mine looks good from deck level, but crevice corrosion can be hard to locate. I plan to have a professional rigging inspection along with a rig tuning. But if I had my mast down, I think I'd go ahead and replace the standing rigging at that time. I'd do what the other posters have suggested: Seco or Rigging Only and do the labor myself, but have professional swages done at the rigging shop at my yard. I think this would be a good investment in both your boat and your peace of mind.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Warren:

Seco will do all of the swages for you.

When I priced out the hardware their prices were cheaper with all of the swaging included in the finished price. They messed up on one of the lifelines and cheerfully replaced it at no charge (thank you).
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
Woody:

Check out Seco South. Their prices are much better than anyone we had found. They use quality products and seem to have good service.

We just got new lifelines from them with all new Johnson pelican hooks.

You can send them your old stuff and they can duplicate it (be sure to mark each piece).
Steve:

thanks for the heads up that is actually one of the two vindors i am planning on useing...i see you wrote that they used Johnson hardware that is very good to know....i havent called them yet to see if they will do what i am proposing but if they will that will be a big factor in me sending it there way for sure....this can be very confusing they way i am going about it..so it may be in there and my best intrest to personally go there ....and thats ok by me ....its like going to the fair when you are a kid:dance: ....i just love to do things like that lol.......i will plan my trip around going there along with about three other places sorta like a round robin if you will :D....

regards

woody
 
Mar 8, 2011
296
Ranger 33 Norfolk
I think you posted in my own thread on rigging. . .even after a rigging inspection and the sketchy advice I decided to re-rig everything excluding the head stay. It is 5-6 years old and each end look fine and was rust stain free. My 33 ft sailboat, with all Hi-Mod mechanical lowers and new open turnbuckles, and swagged top ends. . .cost $1179.00 shipped to my door. It has hurt the budget definitely, but the peace of mind knowing everything is new and isn't going to pop out of a old swage or one the closed turnbuckles isn't going to break is worth every penny :dance:

Also, I inspected my rigging after the rigger looked it over. Yeah, it looked ok on the outside. . .but in the right light you can see the light rust stained "barber pole" starting on all pieces. . .and, when I unwound and bent the cable to see the inside core. It was far worse than the outside, and I could see little rusting pits starting on the strands. . .

If you would like, I can send you my original quote so you can get an idea of what things might cost. . .

BTW, the age of my rigging is unknown. . .it isn't original, but ain't that new :doh:
 
Oct 26, 2005
2,057
- - Satellite Beach, FL.
Merlinuxo....i am going the the supplier and have them swedge them....the terminals for what i am doing will be about $112.00 before tax ( 7 lower terminals) not sure what they will charge as of yet ...but it is prolly a win thing for them in the liabilty as it will be done under my supervision not theres...but i am confident that they will do it correctly as they do swedging all the time......one thing i have learned about sailing is you have to be very frugel or you will sink the money ship:eek:.......;).....

regards

woody
Know what you mean Woody! Mine hasn't sunk but has sprung some pretty good leaks.
Just finished the decks and next is hauling for topsides and bottom paint, plug a couple thru hulls and make a new centerboard raising system, so there goes the next chunk of change.
Thanks for the info on the rigging.
 
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