Replacing standing rigging - is it worth it?
Discussion
Hi All,
Just to pick the brains of the experienced yachty set here....
We've bitten the bullet and decided to move our yacht back from France to the UK. We decided it's better to have lots of weekends away rather than a rushed week or two a year that has to be planned (and hence at the mercy of the weather). Our last trip in France was for 8 months, so has been worth it until now, but should we do another long trip, we'll probably buy a new boat abroad and sail her back slowly, stopping off at places on the way.
The yacht in question is a 2002 Sun Odyssey, well looked after and has only covered about 1500nm in her life.
Given she'll come back on a trailer, the mast will be un-stepped before transport. This got me thinking it would be a good time to replace anchor/tri bulbs and check the fittings etc. at the top of the mast before she's stepped and re-launched. That also got me thinking, would it also be a good idea to replace the standing and running rigging at the same time?....
I've owned her for five years, rigging has always been A1, never any problems, but at approaching 8 years old, would this be a good time to do it, or should I just wait another couple of years until the magic 10 years old?
She hasn't been launched since late 2006 and has been wrapped up on hard standing.
My question is really, is it worth replacing 7/8 year old rigging that has proven to be perfectly serviceable for a new rig that always has the potential to fail (although unlikely)?
I've costed the standing rigging at around £300, I'll fit it up myself as it's easy on this model. I can get all the old rigging removed, send off to be matched, and replace with the new when it comes back. Haven't costed running rigging but this could always be changed with mast up if I didn't get round to it, and is unlikely to be expensive.
Also, is it worth getting a new stern gland fitted on a 7 year old yacht?
Will be doing all the usual before re-launch, oil change, engine service, new impeller, clean & check sails, test/charge batteries, checking all through-hull fittings and clips, clean diesel etc. Anything else I should be thinking of before a re-launch?
Would appreciate your thoughts!
Thanks,
Maser.
Just to pick the brains of the experienced yachty set here....
We've bitten the bullet and decided to move our yacht back from France to the UK. We decided it's better to have lots of weekends away rather than a rushed week or two a year that has to be planned (and hence at the mercy of the weather). Our last trip in France was for 8 months, so has been worth it until now, but should we do another long trip, we'll probably buy a new boat abroad and sail her back slowly, stopping off at places on the way.
The yacht in question is a 2002 Sun Odyssey, well looked after and has only covered about 1500nm in her life.
Given she'll come back on a trailer, the mast will be un-stepped before transport. This got me thinking it would be a good time to replace anchor/tri bulbs and check the fittings etc. at the top of the mast before she's stepped and re-launched. That also got me thinking, would it also be a good idea to replace the standing and running rigging at the same time?....
I've owned her for five years, rigging has always been A1, never any problems, but at approaching 8 years old, would this be a good time to do it, or should I just wait another couple of years until the magic 10 years old?
She hasn't been launched since late 2006 and has been wrapped up on hard standing.
My question is really, is it worth replacing 7/8 year old rigging that has proven to be perfectly serviceable for a new rig that always has the potential to fail (although unlikely)?
I've costed the standing rigging at around £300, I'll fit it up myself as it's easy on this model. I can get all the old rigging removed, send off to be matched, and replace with the new when it comes back. Haven't costed running rigging but this could always be changed with mast up if I didn't get round to it, and is unlikely to be expensive.
Also, is it worth getting a new stern gland fitted on a 7 year old yacht?
Will be doing all the usual before re-launch, oil change, engine service, new impeller, clean & check sails, test/charge batteries, checking all through-hull fittings and clips, clean diesel etc. Anything else I should be thinking of before a re-launch?
Would appreciate your thoughts!
Thanks,
Maser.
When will your insurance company require the standing rigging to be replaced? I must admit that if you can do it for £300 I'd be tempted to do it just for the peace of mind. As for running rigging, I'd have a good look at it and just replace anything that looks dodgy. Stating the bleeding obvious, if your standing rigging fails you might lose or break your mast. If running rigging fails - and i've never ever seen that happen - it might be a bit dramatic but it's unlikely to cause a lot of damage.
I'm not familiar with your boat, but if it has a stern gland, presumably it has a conventional shaft with a P bracket? If it has I'd have a look at the Cutless bearing and probably replace it.
ETA, service the winches, as the grease has probably dried out, and service the sheaves at the top of the mast, as they are a bugger to do swinging around in a bosuns chair.
I'm not familiar with your boat, but if it has a stern gland, presumably it has a conventional shaft with a P bracket? If it has I'd have a look at the Cutless bearing and probably replace it.
ETA, service the winches, as the grease has probably dried out, and service the sheaves at the top of the mast, as they are a bugger to do swinging around in a bosuns chair.
Edited by Incredible Sulk on Sunday 21st June 18:04
Incredible Sulk said:
When will your insurance company require the standing rigging to be replaced?
Haven't asked, but it's Haven Knox Johnston, so I would expect 10 years. It's just a good opportunity having the mast down, boat on a cradle etc. to replace all bulbs and rigging. Once it's in the water, I'm not sure on the next chance I'll have as it will probably only be lifted/anti-fouled annually for the next few years now.Incredible Sulk said:
As for running rigging, I'd have a good look at it and just replace anything that looks dodgy.
What I thought too.... I might remove it all and put it through the washing machine to get the salt out, or at least the sheets if not halyards, just to get the salt and dirt out that's accumulated in the last few years.Incredible Sulk said:
I'm not familiar with your boat, but if it has a stern gland, presumably it has a conventional shaft with a P bracket? If it has I'd have a look at the Cutless bearing and probably replace it.
D'you know, it's so long since I've seen the bottom of it, I really can't remember! Pretty sure it's a standard shaft/P-bracket arrangement from memory, is it worth getting this done 'professionally' (I've not done one before), just in case it goes wrong, I'd have some backup for insurance purposes?Incredible Sulk said:
service the winches, as the grease has probably dried out, and service the sheaves at the top of the mast, as they are a bugger to do swinging around in a bosuns chair.
Bloomin' good idea, thanks. The sheaves is something I would have likely forgotten, and definitely something to do with a mast lying on the ground....Brilliant advice, cheers!
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