I'm pretty sure the standing rigging on my 1973 O'Day 22 is original equipment. It looks OK for the most part; no kinks or seperating of the wire strands, and the wire to turnbuckle connection looks good. The turnbuckles look a little worn, what with pliers, vice grips and who knows what else used over the years to work them. Will the years of use cause a sudden failure? Will the accumulated stress, exposure to weather, etc. weaken the material? Can there be unseen weakness, or is it a case of "if it looks OK it is OK"? Any advice welcome. Thank you.
Standing Rigging Useful Life?
- Thread starter Frank15396
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rigging flaws
I also have a 1973 O'day 22. Love my little boat, but I also have the old rigging. I learned a little trick from sail magazine that may help you. You start with a can of penetrating oil and mix in some black dye to color the oil. Next you brush the oil on your turnbuckles and let it soak for about 20 mins. You then wipe of the excess with a solvent dampend rag. Oddly enough, you then baby powder the fitting and wait 10 minutes. Any oil remaining in a flaw will mark the baby powder black. Ok, I was sceptical, but it worked for me. I found a small crack in my backstay turnbuckle. good luck
I also have a 1973 O'day 22. Love my little boat, but I also have the old rigging. I learned a little trick from sail magazine that may help you. You start with a can of penetrating oil and mix in some black dye to color the oil. Next you brush the oil on your turnbuckles and let it soak for about 20 mins. You then wipe of the excess with a solvent dampend rag. Oddly enough, you then baby powder the fitting and wait 10 minutes. Any oil remaining in a flaw will mark the baby powder black. Ok, I was sceptical, but it worked for me. I found a small crack in my backstay turnbuckle. good luck
rigging check
take a rag and run shrouds thru it and check for any barbs, broken strands, replace any with snags.
take a rag and run shrouds thru it and check for any barbs, broken strands, replace any with snags.
10 years.........
the average life span of standing rigging is about 10 years. that is not to say that after 10 years it will just fall apart, but it will lose some of its tensile strength. There are variables such as salt water, high sailing loads on the rigging, etc. But considering that you are on the Hudson ( I owned an O'day 22 up the river) there is less salt in the water than on the Sound or Atlantic. The first year I owned my 1973 O'Day 22 I replaced the lower shrouds. The next season, I replaced the upper shrouds, and the third year I replaced the foward and back stays..then I sold the boat. It's easier to replace a set of standing rigging, rather than replacing a mast.
the average life span of standing rigging is about 10 years. that is not to say that after 10 years it will just fall apart, but it will lose some of its tensile strength. There are variables such as salt water, high sailing loads on the rigging, etc. But considering that you are on the Hudson ( I owned an O'day 22 up the river) there is less salt in the water than on the Sound or Atlantic. The first year I owned my 1973 O'Day 22 I replaced the lower shrouds. The next season, I replaced the upper shrouds, and the third year I replaced the foward and back stays..then I sold the boat. It's easier to replace a set of standing rigging, rather than replacing a mast.
Relatively inexpensive insurance
I have an O'Day 222, and also had original standing rigging. It had stretched out to the point where I couldn't tighten it much on the upper and lower shrouds. I bought a new set from Rudy at D&R Marine. The old rigging is now a backup, and the expense was not too bad ($300-$350 is my recollection from a couple of years ago). Overall, it's pretty cheap insurance. The nice thing about buying from Rudy is that he know's the dimensions and so there are no surprises when it arrives. Dave s/v Hakuna Matatta
I have an O'Day 222, and also had original standing rigging. It had stretched out to the point where I couldn't tighten it much on the upper and lower shrouds. I bought a new set from Rudy at D&R Marine. The old rigging is now a backup, and the expense was not too bad ($300-$350 is my recollection from a couple of years ago). Overall, it's pretty cheap insurance. The nice thing about buying from Rudy is that he know's the dimensions and so there are no surprises when it arrives. Dave s/v Hakuna Matatta
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