The standing Rig

Getting a boat ready to cross oceans is a lot of work. The list of projects has grown faster than we can complete each project. I'm doing as much of the work myself as I can; however, much require professional help, like replacing the standing rig. As far as we can tell, our rig has never been replaced. 

A "rig" is all of the lines and cables that hold up the mast. It also includes the lines and blocks used to manage the sails. Generally speaking, the "standing rig" are the bits of stainless steel cable used to hold up the mast. It is custom to replace a standing rig every 15 to 20 years. Constructed in 2007,  Tusitala is due for a new standing rig. The cost on such a job can vary between 10 and 30K for a boat the size of Tusitala, and our standing and running rig cost us closer to the higher end of that range.

We replaced just about everything associated with sailing the boat above the deck. This includes all of the shroud cables that hold up the mast, the diamond wires that stiffen the mast, the halyards (lines that haul up the sails), the sheets (lines that are used to adjust the sails), the traveler car (a sliding track use to adjust the mainsail), turnbuckles (devices used to tighten the cables) shackles (clips used to attach ropes to things), reef lines (used to adjust sail down to reduce sail area for heavy wind), stack pack (a big back used to store the sail on top of the boom), lazy jacks (ropes used to hold the sail when it is lowered), rebuilt Furler drum (spinning thing used to roll up the headsail), restitched the jib (front sail), all of the electronic in the mast including lights, wind vein, wires that run to lights and antennas for radios. The lights were all swapped out for low draw LEDs. 

On this job, the only task that didn't require a crane and a boatyard was replacing the running rig. The labor here was minimal, so I had the riggers replace the running rig. The only thing I could do was disconnect all of the wires and electronics and reconnect them once the mast was re-attached. I figure this saved me around 500 bucks, which was not much in the grand scheme of things. 

When we bought the boat, we hoped to put maybe 25K into it to get it ready to go cruising. Ha!

https://youtu.be/foFACNv3nUY