I am about to replace the standing rigging on my SpaceSailer 20.

The existing side stays terminate at the mast with a sawged eye and thimble into a tang with a clevis type pin - Thats what it looks like from the deck.

Termination at the deck is a swaged eye and thimble onto a simple turnbuckle for adjustment.

The quote I have for replacement has been to change the termination at the deck for an all in one turnbuckle that will go directly onto the chainplate fitting on the deck. The rigger doesn't seem keen on the swaged eye arrangement, however to change over will need me to do something different on the mast as well.

The existing system of swaged eyes would be approx 20 years old and hasn't failed so far, I understand the issues of wire fatigue around the eye and swage, but the rig is really small - mast height about 5.5m.

Do I really need to change to a more expensive set up?

Appreciate any feedback.
Thanks

Have you tried Andrew at Rope Solutions for a quote. He is a younger rigger but has a really good appreciation for the reality of what is needed. His contact number is 0439 734 394
All riggers will quote to replace the tang attachments at the mast as these are a common weak point and the replacement of the rigging screws is to save a lot of time as it is common for the old ones to seize up. Most common and cheapest rigging screws now have the wire coming straight to the turnbuckle with the threaded end swaged onto the wire.
Your alternative, the wire, thimbles and swages are all available at the local chandlery, take the old wires in and replace like for like. You will need to do the labour yourself and make sure you get a can of innox for the old rigging screws while you are there.

Thanks for the info. I have Rope Solutions to complete the job. Thanks for the recommendation.

Looking forward to having the rig secure and being able to push the boat a bit harder.

I have to agree there LooseChange.

The Norseman/Staloc type terminals are great. No need for expensive rigging shop swages. Riggers will always try to throw some doubt on their reliability but Staloc terminals carry Lloyds certification.

Also the open bodied turn buckles are good strong stuff (the ones in the picture I mean. Not so sure about the new ones you can buy today.). You can see exactly how much thread adjustment there is left and you can see what the thread condition is.

It is possible to have rigging screws annealed thereby removing their brittleness and rendering them nearly as good as new.

Just a matter of finding who can/will do it and the cost effectiveness.

Donk107 said..
One of the blokes down here built himself a 40 footer and hand spliced eyes with tapered tails in all the stainless standing rigging at both ends

He learnt how to do it and when he was confident he knew what he was doing he took a sample to be load tested before starting on the actual rigging

Regards Don

I had to do a wire splice when I was in the navy as part of my promotion training. Just the one, about an inch cable. It's pretty much like changing car tyres by hand [I have done a few] pretty pointless when a tyre dealer can use a machine. Same goes for wire splicing, machine does it easier and not that expensive, why bother. Bit different if it was galvanized wire.