Wire Rope?

[RonRock]

What do I need to know about the wire rope rigging on my V25? As far as I know the rigging is all good. But I really don't know much other than it all looks OK.

My Loos gauge should arrive anytime, so I should learn what to do with it. As well as learn about the cable itself.

 

[Sumner]

They usually recommend replacement at 10 yrs., but I doubt very few boats out there follow that and that recommendation is probably for a boat that gets sailed often and in salt water.

We had a couple broken strands on the backstay of our S and the shrouds where kinked a place or two. All prbably from stepping the mast numerous times. We replaced all of the standing rigging. Had the forestay done as it takes a special rotary swagger if you have a turnbuckle inside of a furler. That was about $50, parts and labor. I made up...

.... new shrouds and backstay, but probably could of had that done for what I paid for the swage tool, wire and fittings. I like learning and doing stuff though. It wasn't hard or that expensive for peace of mind.

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/rigging-24.html

I think if the boat was over 20 years old I'd replace the standing rigging just to feel good about things,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT]

 

[RonRock]

Hi Again Sum, I have just ordered the Swaging tool so soon I will have the necessary tool to do the job. I'm a lot like you, in that I very much prefer to do it myself. I enjoy the learning, the savings, and having the tools when the job is done. Also nice to know that the job is done right. Well at least to the best of my ability at the time.

I need the swaging tool for another project as well, so it just worked out that I order one now.

I have read your page on replacing your rigging and as with all your pages, very helpful. Actually, I have read most of your site by now.

One thing I am trying to learn here is about the cable itself. How to pick the correct cable for the job. As well as what the specs mean.

 

[Sumner]

...One thing I am trying to learn here is about the cable itself. How to pick the correct cable for the job. As well as what the specs mean.

304 wire is a little stronger, but I went with 316 (1X19) from riggingonly.com after reading this page....

http://www.riggingonly.com/wire.htm#WIRE

More corrosion resistant and only slightly less strong, at least the wire they buy. I'd also had gone up on the forestay from 1/8 to 5/32 so picked up strength there. Lots of good info on the page above.

I noticed that the link to the swage tool I used was out of date on my web page...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/rigging-24.html

...fixed that,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

 

[rgranger]

Ron

take a piece of cotton and rub it along the length of each stay. If you have any broken strands they will "grab" onto a piece of cotton and you will be able to see it stuck to the stay. The 10 year recommendation that Sum mentioned is more applicable to a boat that stays in the water with the mast up. The constant rocking of the boat puts thousands of shocks and strains on the rigging every day. A boat that sits most of its life on a trailer has less stress placed on the rigging so a good inspection of the stays, turn buckles and chain plates is probably good enough.

 

[oreana123]

.

A source of info concerning wire rigging is the Federal Publication Advisory Circular 43.13-1A and 2A .