Replacing My Own Standing Rigging

S

SailMaster

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Mar 31, 2012
139
Nord Cantieri 38 St Marys
Due to INCREDIBLE LABOR SHORTAGES at the local yards, I am considering replacing my standing rigging at my dock. Three yards contacted and not a single quote can be had.

I have done this before. 30 years ago when I was younger and more daring. Should I? Or am I nuts for considering it at age 59? I sure as heck won't tell my wife as she will say HELL NO?
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
SailMaster said:
Should I? Or am I nuts for considering it at age 59?
Click to expand
I'll be 59 in a few months and would not hesitate to do this with proper equipment but.... there are a lot of critical facts about you and your situation that I (we) don't know.

  • How strong are you?
  • How fat are you?:biggrin:
  • How nimble/flexible are you?
  • How is your sense of balance?
  • Do you have a quality bosun chair with proper climbing blocks and cleats? Preferably with an integral D-ring harness.... and do you have a trusted spotter to man the halyard?
 
S

SailMaster

.
Mar 31, 2012
139
Nord Cantieri 38 St Marys
rgranger said:
  • How strong are you?
i can probably bench press 80 or 90 lbs. My work out weight would be much lower though. 35 to 40 lbs with 2 sets of 12 reps
  • How fat are you?:biggrin:
155 lbs on a 5 foot 6 inch frame
  • How nimble/flexible are you?
Pretty flexible. I streach daily
  • How is your sense of balance?
Before or after alcohol???
  • Do you have a quality bosun chair with proper climbing blocks and cleats? Preferably with an integral D-ring harness.... and do you have a trusted spotter to man the halyard?
I would purchase a bosuns chair with blocks and cleats. My mast has steps going all the way up which is nice.
Click to expand
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Go for it.... and don't tell your wife.... (alternatively you can ask her to be your spotter:beer:):yikes:
 
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Likes: jssailem
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,240
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
I'd bet that you can do it, but why at your dock? If you can't get a rigger, can you at least get the yard to take the mast down?
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,712
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Having steps will make the job easier. It will still be necessary to hang from a halyard to reach the spreader ends.

Is there a rush to replace the rigging?
 
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,450
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
If you can’t pull the mast for some reason (which would be the best option), you certainly could do it yourself…but the big question is how are you going to get up the mast? Especially if you can’t ask the Mrs. for help:huh:


Greg
 
rgranger

rgranger

.
Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
I used to keep my boat ant a marina at lake Martin AL. There were a couple of old salts there who would trailer/truck their sailboats to Florida each winter… if I’m remembering right one was a 27’ and the other a 31’. They would get a few neighbor sailboats to raft up and they would rig a bridle up their masts using the neighbors halyards. Then they would lift and unstep their masts right there in the water and lower them to the deck.

crazy thing to watch… wish I had filmed it.
 
garymalmgren

garymalmgren

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May 29, 2018
558
Canel 25 foot Shiogama, japan
I am considering replacing my standing rigging at my dock.

If you can pull up next to a wharf I would recommend a cherry picker.
It can be loaded up with tools and is a stable working platform.

Measure your rigging. Cut new stuff one foot over length.
Swaged fitting at the top and Norseman fitting at the bottom.

gary
 
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L

LloydB

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Jan 15, 2006
927
Macgregor 22 Silverton
How did you go about doing that 30 years ago? Maybe there's a good reason not to tell your wife and why you hesitate now.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,758
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
@LeslieTroyer took his Catalina 36 to Canada in 2019 and the riggers there replaced his rigging while at the dock.

They had a nimble 30 something rigger climb the mast and remove a shroud, after first securing the mast to the hull with the halyards. Take the shroud down take it to the shop to make a new match. Then up the mast and install the new unit.. Repeat. Took 2 days. He is very pleased with the results.

It can be done. Having the right hardware and knowing how to make the necessary fittings/connections is a key.

Measure once cut 2-3 times... I think that is the mantra...
 
Hollyberry

Hollyberry

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Sep 24, 2021
386
Beneteau 35s5 Telegraph hrbr Thetis Island
At our ages we need to work smarter - not harder..
Looks like your boat is a masthead rig, that simplifies things esp if there are a couple of extra halyards for temporary support.
 
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