all fired up 6 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 My boat is rigged with 1/4"" 1x19 Stainless rigging wire. The rig is now 8 years old. The boat is raced regularly on Auckland Harbour. Can any forum members advise me on on the expected life of this sort of rigging wire? a.f.u Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,230 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 The wire is not usually the issue, but the terminations. As an Indicator, Cat 1 requires replacement every 10 years. That being said, there are plenty of boats around with 20+ year old rigs. It will depend on the use, and the condition. As I said, the terminations are almost always the point of failure and can be very difficult to see any faults. Inspect with a magnifying glass, and dye if you are keen. Or replace if any doubt. Corrosion around the terminations is an indicator sometimes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 My SS wire (8mm) before replacement was 32 years old, interestingly the stb aft lower started to strand well away from the terminal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,230 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 You were lucky Steve, Stainless usually suffers catastrophic failure - no stranding first, just bang! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex TL systems 63 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 I have an 18 year old rig i want to get professionally checked before deciding whether to replace it. It still looks like new to me but dropping the mast at sea might mean losing the boat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,230 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 Plus some insurance policies have max rig age clauses.... worth checking Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,581 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 TL are you still heading north this year? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex TL systems 63 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 I was supposed to be going soon but still waiting for a small op on my leg so might try to go up in September and back in October just to try the pineapples out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex TL systems 63 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 As well as getting the rig checked I plan to put up two external mast head halyards and tie them out as backup stays. That and sail conservatively should help in keeping the rig up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,581 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 Mmmmmmmm fresh pineapples Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 30 odd years ago a very good friend was planning to head off shore, his "ferro" 46 footer had galvanised rigging, a yacht inspector wanted to condemn it and said he would / should fit stainless wire. Friend was non-plussed and asked the inspector if he had ever lost a rig. The answer "flawed" him The inspector had lost 3 or 4 rigs (memory) all stainless. After some discussion he kept the galv rigging. The yacht was sold in Europe 25 years later still with the same galv rigging as when the set sail. Re my 32 year old wire, it would have been of Swedish manufacture, Today the "best?" is from Korea, and of course good Galvanised rigging wire is near impossible to source. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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