Anyone here replace the standing rigging on their boat with synthetic rope? I got a couple quotes to make up some replacement shrouds and I estimate I can splice up some dyneema for less than half the cost. Would love some feedback from anyone else who's done this to their cat.
It’s an option but I wouldn’t do it to save money. Hard to beat measured and assembled wires ready to go for a few hundred dollars a set. I still think stainless is the best abrasion resistant, low elasticity, uv resistant high strength material for your dollar. There may be some other reasons to try it, that stuff is magical, just not sure it’s a big dollar saver
I got a quote of $200 to replace a single shroud, which got me thinking about alternative solutions. Another option that I complete forgot about is to use nicro-press sleeves and stainless thimbles. I've never used them for standing rigging before, but on a boat this size it might just be the answer.
A 20-ish foot custom beach cat. Has 4 shrouds and a fore stay that are roughly 25 feet long. Yeah, I thought it was stupid expensive, but only one sailboat rigger in the area with a swaging machine.
A 20-ish foot custom beach cat. Has 4 shrouds and a fore stay that are roughly 25 feet long. Yeah, I thought it was stupid expensive, but only one sailboat rigger in the area with a swaging machine
While I like to spend my money local, don't limit yourself to the only guy with a swaging machine. I ordered custom size rigging from Salty Dog Marine and it fit perfect. Just know your measurement from thimble eye to thimble eye(or swage eye).
Would interested to see some pics of your rig, never seen a double shrouded beach cat
I ordered custom size rigging from Salty Dog Marine and it fit perfect.
I had Salty Dog do my rigging as well - double swages on all ends.
Exactly as I ordered.
-- Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA --
I got a quote of $200 to replace a single shroud, which got me thinking about alternative solutions. Another option that I complete forgot about is to use nicro-press sleeves and stainless thimbles. I've never used them for standing rigging before, but on a boat this size it might just be the answer.
Murray's Marine/Sport can build custom rigging and for an inexpensive price... the good thing the next time you need it, they already have it "speced" out.. To be 100% accurate you should send what you want to replicated to Joel @ Murrays, but he can work from measurements too...
The reason most people go to synthetic is to reduce weight aloft and usually the reason to do that is to get that last .01% edge in competition. Also, synthetic makes it easier to tension or un-tension the rig on the fly for changing conditions. Again, trying to squeeze the last .01% of performance out of the boat.
I have ordered several full sets of standing rigging in SS from both Salty Dog and Murrays, 100% satisfied with both. Just give them good measurements.
Just curious, why the 4 side stays?
Thanks,
Brad in Jax
H16 sold
H18 sold
H18 sold for parts
G Cat 5.7 sold
Stiletto 27 needs work
The reason most people go to synthetic is to reduce weight aloft and usually the reason to do that is to get that last .01% edge in competition. Also, synthetic makes it easier to tension or un-tension the rig on the fly for changing conditions. Again, trying to squeeze the last .01% of performance out of the boat.
it can be argued that hm rigging is safer than ss because chafe, uv damage and fuzz are easy to spot and signs of wear and alert that it is time for attention
ss can have internal cracks, imperfections and corrosion that will never be seen until it separates (eg. inside a nicopress sleeve or airplane fitting, or hidden by wire on the thimble) - or an incorrectly performed job on the rigging. rare from a creditable place but happens
it can be argued that hm rigging is safer than ss because chafe, uv damage and fuzz are easy to spot and signs of wear and alert that it is time for attention...
Here's a perfect example of what you're talking about. Note the swaged fitting on the left (red arrow). The rigging on this boat shows absolutely no signs of rust or wear of any kind, yet the stainless steel 1x19 wire that was swaged to this eye broke while the boat was in its slip. Lucky it didn't happen while sailing otherwise the entire rig might have been lost.
Im actually working with john at coligo marine to try out some new fittings that will eliminate the normal pin fittings on the boat. Should be an interesting project. We are even doijg synthetic forestay with a roller furler
I have synthetic on my A-cats. Its lighter and often makes the difference between min weight and not it seems. However its kind of a pain to keep tensioned properly. Its certainly not as industructible. Its also harder to deal with when rigging and de rigging. Is it worthwhile? I am not so sure. I certainly would not be using it on a boat stored mast up or any application that would require it exposed to UV for more than a weekend. I would not use it on my F18 either.
-- Greenville SC
Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans --
have synthetic on my A-cats. Its lighter and often makes the difference between min weight and not it seems. However its kind of a pain to keep tensioned properly. I
how do you measure tension?
how do you adjust tension?
do use a "termination/fitting" or lashing block?
I now have a UFO, with dyneema shrouds. Spinlock rigsense works well to reproduce a known tension. No idea whether the reading is correct in absolute terms. I aim for 85Kg with the sail tensioned, but is it truly 85Kg?
I now have a UFO, with dyneema shrouds. Spinlock rigsense works well to reproduce a known tension. No idea whether the reading is correct in absolute terms. I aim for 85Kg with the sail tensioned, but is it truly 85Kg?
I may disagree with Bacho a tad bit here. Using the dyneema, at a minimum heat treated SK78, but better is heat treated SK99 (super pre-stretched are usual marketing terms) and you have a product that is better than steel in terms of creep and elongation. The real issue is the termination needs to set initially and compensating for that isn't trivial. The other issue is measuring the tension.
In terms of U.V exposure, I have zero issue leaving a rig up with dyneema rigging in the sun. Is it great in the tropics? No, but in the mid latitudes you probably have 4-5 years before that becomes a real issue. Chafe will likely get you first, I run decent chafe protection at the top in particular.
I run 2.5mm dyneema trap lines on the F18 and have had 3+ years out of a set left mast up April-November. I generally sell the boat before they are a problem, and again chafe is the #1 enemy, not U.V.
I just load tested a set of my heat treated SK99 shrouds that have been outside under tension for 3 years. They are 2.5mm rated at 1200kg/2,645 lbs - (BTW 1/8 wire 1x19 is rated at 1,800 lbs).
Anyway, after 3 years hard use, left in the sun, stepping/unstepping the mast many times, traveled with, raced, etc. - they broke at a little over 2,400 lbs. And they broke in an area that been chafed quite often by the mainsheet. i typically have to re-coat the lower couple of feet with maxi-jacket once a year. When in light air, and i'm trapping really forward, the mainsheet is sometimes rubbing the lower part of the shroud when trimming.
I just load tested a set of my heat treated SK99 shrouds that have been outside under tension for 3 years. They are 2.5mm rated at 1200kg/2,645 lbs - (BTW 1/8 wire 1x19 is rated at 1,800 lbs).
Anyway, after 3 years hard use, left in the sun, stepping/unstepping the mast many times, traveled with, raced, etc. - they broke at a little over 2,400 lbs. And they broke in an area that been chafed quite often by the mainsheet. i typically have to re-coat the lower couple of feet with maxi-jacket once a year. When in light air, and i'm trapping really forward, the mainsheet is sometimes rubbing the lower part of the shroud when trimming.
thanks for the info
i always love the stories about "the punisher"
what rig was this 2.5mm line on?
Here is my review of my Colligo Marine soft rigging and tutorial of solo rigging my prindle 19 (Morris Covin's old boat) Thanks to Ernie Kamp and Scott Tuma for the ideas on solo rigging. Works like a charm, especially with the new rigging. There is also more to come from Colligo, a synthetic forestay that will be roller furller compatible.
I know it may not be class legal, but who gives a darn when you are mostly sailing for a good time.
Here is my review of my Colligo Marine soft rigging and tutorial of solo rigging my prindle 19 (Morris Covin's old boat) Thanks to Ernie Kamp and Scott Tuma for the ideas on solo rigging. Works like a charm, especially with the new rigging. There is also more to come from Colligo, a synthetic forestay that will be roller furller compatible.
I know it may not be class legal, but who gives a darn when you are mostly sailing for a good time.
looks nice - i drool over my friends rigging from them on his tri
one day ...
also - adjusting your shrouds: not sure if it will help but on my h18, i adjusted shroud tension the same way. one way that worked well for me in most wind conditions (not in shifty wind) was to leave the shrouds semi lose during rigging. when the boat was all rigged, either on wheels or floating (with someone holding a bow so i didn't turn off the wind)I... turn directly into the wind, and travel all the way out and sheet it in. that would make the shroud very lose and i could tighten it without being in the harness on land - then do the other side
The Colligo stuff sure is nice. I looked hard at a boat with Dynex Dux.
On my big boat, there's 30+ feet of 3/8 shroud/stay in the air, that's about 30 pounds flying. Eventually, I'm planning on soft standing rigging... but that's a ways down the boat bucks list.
Here is my review of my Colligo Marine soft rigging and tutorial of solo rigging my prindle 19 (Morris Covin's old boat) Thanks to Ernie Kamp and Scott Tuma for the ideas on solo rigging. Works like a charm, especially with the new rigging. There is also more to come from Colligo, a synthetic forestay that will be roller furller compatible.
I know it may not be class legal, but who gives a darn when you are mostly sailing for a good time.
looks nice - i drool over my friends rigging from them on his tri
one day ...
also - adjusting your shrouds: not sure if it will help but on my h18, i adjusted shroud tension the same way. one way that worked well for me in most wind conditions (not in shifty wind) was to leave the shrouds semi lose during rigging. when the boat was all rigged, either on wheels or floating (with someone holding a bow so i didn't turn off the wind)I... turn directly into the wind, and travel all the way out and sheet it in. that would make the shroud very lose and i could tighten it without being in the harness on land - then do the other side
Itll be a couple weeks before i can get you any pics. I work off shore, but ill describe it for you. Its an aluuminum block with a slot for thr lashing line to travel through sideways and two large holes, one larger to allow a stopper knot to pass and the other to catch it (these are connected by a 4 mm slot). I think thr rest is evident on the video. John is updating the design a little from some of my suggestions, and will have the webpage updated soon