You cannot see whether SS rigging is ok by looking at it. Even crack testing won't help as any rigger (or me as I have a couple of old turnbuckles and swage fittings with broken wires) will show you that most wires fail inside the swage.
While a very experienced person might be able to rerig their yacht to a high standard, it isn't in my view a suitable job for an inexperienced amateur.
MB is currently being rerigged by Joe Walsh. The quote is $6,800. It will cost me a bit more as the tabernacle had to be removed by the chippies and we need a sparkie to finish installing the new wind instrument.
The mast came out, all the sheaves have been drilled out and replaced. The paint has been stripped off which allows a good check of any damage. It won't be repainted but finished in an oil finish.
The chain plates have been removed and new ones fabricated. All the wire and turnbuckles etc are replaced. The tabernacle has been removed, blasted and rebuilt with new sheaves. A rig survey report will come with it.
All for about $7,000, every 10-12 years.
DrRog, Havefun and I can sleep easily on our Lord Howe trip.

MorningBird said..
You cannot see whether SS rigging is ok by looking at it. Even crack testing won't help as any rigger (or me as I have a couple of old turnbuckles and swage fittings with broken wires) will show you that most wires fail inside the swage.
While a very experienced person might be able to rerig their yacht to a high standard, it isn't in my view a suitable job for an inexperienced amateur.
MB is currently being rerigged by Joe Walsh. The quote is $6,800. It will cost me a bit more as the tabernacle had to be removed by the chippies and we need a sparkie to finish installing the new wind instrument.
The mast came out, all the sheaves have been drilled out and replaced. The paint has been stripped off which allows a good check of any damage. It won't be repainted but finished in an oil finish.
The chain plates have been removed and new ones fabricated. All the wire and turnbuckles etc are replaced. The tabernacle has been removed, blasted and rebuilt with new sheaves. A rig survey report will come with it.
All for about $7,000, every 10-12 years.
DrRog, Havefun and I can sleep easily on our Lord Howe trip.

Can we have details on this oil finish please?

I have dropped the rig on my 31' boat using the main halyard from a 38' boat rafted alongside. surprisingly easy. just attach the halyard about 1/3 the way down the mast, take up some weight, pop all the clevis pins and lay it down. same method used to step the mast as well.

I then got a rigger to supply all new fittings, checked all spreaders, replaced some sheaves and all electrics - all done in less than a week.

take plenty of photos and keep receipts for parts replaced and provide these to your insurer.

I also replaced the rig on my 40' boat but left the rig standing - removed 1/2 the rig, got replacements fabricated and installed using mast steps and bosuns chair.

If you have some mechanical aptitude, then doing your own repairs great - if you have repaired motors then you definitely belong to that category. don't be scared to ask for assistance where you are not sure - this forum, another experienced sailor or a rigger can help enormously.

I will pull the rig. Bit scared to do it so im really gonna have to nut it out. I called the owner who sold it to the guy i bought it from today. Managed to get his number. He replaced all turn buckles and swages 4 years ago. The owners before him(who bought the boat new and travelled to asia in her) put all the current stays and chain plates on 6 years ago. They over rigged her with 6.5mm stays. Ive still got more questions for him but he said i could call him tonight as he was at work.