I have the opportunity to pull and store the masts on my O'Day 32CC. The standing rigging is original, (25 years old), and obviously needs to be replaced. I would like to pull the masts, paint them, (currently bare alum.), redo the standing rigging, and rewire everything. This will be my winter project, and I would like to do most of it myself, to save some cash. My question is how difficult will it be. It all looks very simple, and I am fairly handy. Any advise on cable terminals? Does anyone have any reading suggestions for this project? Any advise from someone who has done it would be appreciated.
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Don Evans
Great Upgrade
Hi Rich, good on ya for trying this yourself. Are you going with Sta Locks? Anyways, the best book on the subject is Brion Toss's "Complete Riggers Apprentice", available at his website. While your at it pick up his rig tuning video when your done. For painting the mast hints also check his archived spartalk posts on this subject. Best success with the project. Don
Hi Rich, good on ya for trying this yourself. Are you going with Sta Locks? Anyways, the best book on the subject is Brion Toss's "Complete Riggers Apprentice", available at his website. While your at it pick up his rig tuning video when your done. For painting the mast hints also check his archived spartalk posts on this subject. Best success with the project. Don
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Swaging
A good swaging tool is a pretty expensive investment when you're only going to use it once. You might check into having a local rigging shop swaging the terminals on for you. You might not necessarily save money but you will have the confidence (and warranty?) that it was done by a pro. LaDonna
A good swaging tool is a pretty expensive investment when you're only going to use it once. You might check into having a local rigging shop swaging the terminals on for you. You might not necessarily save money but you will have the confidence (and warranty?) that it was done by a pro. LaDonna
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Debra Blatnik
What about swage-less terminals?
Swaging is expensive, so why not use the non-swage terminals? Has anyone seen any data on which is better?
Swaging is expensive, so why not use the non-swage terminals? Has anyone seen any data on which is better?
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Bob Camarena
A friend just did it
A friend just did this on his Cal 29. It was a lot more time consuming than he thought it would have been, but it looks great. He removed all of his old standing rigging and had a rigging shop make up a new set, using the old as a pattern. I don't know how much extra this cost, but, for me it would be worth the piece of mind. Plus, they pay for any mistakes. My experience is that, no matter how careful I am, I always end up doing part of a job at least twice before it's right. Unless money is extremely tight I wouldn't make my own rigging. Make sure you use open, bronze turnbuckles instead of the original, stainless steel barrel type which are prone to hidden corrosion and galling (seizing). In terms of painting, if your mast currently isn't painted, I'd reconsider the idea to paint. It is very time consuming to do right but if you do, preparation is the key. To me, it's kind of like the roof on my house. I look at it a lot right after replacing it but after a while it fades into the background. I'd save my time and money for something more functional. My C-30 is aluminum and I think I'll keep it that way. While you're at it, consider replacing your VHF antenna and other masthead gear with new. One more thing, triple check everything. On my friend's boat, we had the mast up on the crane and as we lowered it to the mast step, he noticed that he had replaced the VHF connectors with two male plugs, so off to West Marine, again, this time with the mast dangling from the crane.
A friend just did this on his Cal 29. It was a lot more time consuming than he thought it would have been, but it looks great. He removed all of his old standing rigging and had a rigging shop make up a new set, using the old as a pattern. I don't know how much extra this cost, but, for me it would be worth the piece of mind. Plus, they pay for any mistakes. My experience is that, no matter how careful I am, I always end up doing part of a job at least twice before it's right. Unless money is extremely tight I wouldn't make my own rigging. Make sure you use open, bronze turnbuckles instead of the original, stainless steel barrel type which are prone to hidden corrosion and galling (seizing). In terms of painting, if your mast currently isn't painted, I'd reconsider the idea to paint. It is very time consuming to do right but if you do, preparation is the key. To me, it's kind of like the roof on my house. I look at it a lot right after replacing it but after a while it fades into the background. I'd save my time and money for something more functional. My C-30 is aluminum and I think I'll keep it that way. While you're at it, consider replacing your VHF antenna and other masthead gear with new. One more thing, triple check everything. On my friend's boat, we had the mast up on the crane and as we lowered it to the mast step, he noticed that he had replaced the VHF connectors with two male plugs, so off to West Marine, again, this time with the mast dangling from the crane.
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Jack
Stretch
Make sure you take into consideration the stretch factor of new rigging. I have seen a formula but forget where, perhaps in Good Old Boat. I'm sure most rigging shops will help you, especially if you are purchasing supplies from them. By the way, I would get a quote on a complete professional set compared to do it yourself. I think JSI actually has a discount over the winter on labor. Norsemen terminals are fairly expensive. I would take some competitive bids. You may find that the cost savings versus the piece of mind will change your mind.
Make sure you take into consideration the stretch factor of new rigging. I have seen a formula but forget where, perhaps in Good Old Boat. I'm sure most rigging shops will help you, especially if you are purchasing supplies from them. By the way, I would get a quote on a complete professional set compared to do it yourself. I think JSI actually has a discount over the winter on labor. Norsemen terminals are fairly expensive. I would take some competitive bids. You may find that the cost savings versus the piece of mind will change your mind.
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Frank
Don't paint the mast!
Unless you have experience with painting aluminum in a marine environment you may be dissapointed.
Unless you have experience with painting aluminum in a marine environment you may be dissapointed.
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