Your rigging is only as strong as your maintenance routine. Neglect is the #1 cause of dismasting. Keep your crew safe and your mast upright with these essential tips.
THE DO’S AND DONT’S OF CARING FOR STANDING RIGGING
DO… Use fresh water to rinse salt spray off accessible stainless steel rigging and lifelines after returning from sailing each time.
DON’T… Use a cleaner containing chlorine as it is destructive to stainless steel.
DO… Inspect every time you go aloft to clean the rig. Look for broken strands or “meat hooks”, surface rust (especially near terminals or swages), pitting or discoloration, hairline cracks, and crystallization of the metal.
DO… Inspect all hardware including spreaders & spreader tips, sheaves & sheave boxes, shroud tangs, shackles, turnbuckles, the mast base, halyard blocks, and chainplates.
DON’T… Use a steel wool or scrubbing pad to remove stubborn stains. They can leave minute particles of steel embedded in the rigging that will rust.
DO… Clean and polish several times per year. Rigworks recommends a product like Brite Boy Metal Polish or Collinite Metal Wax. Regular polishing removes surface rust.
DO… Use spreader boots, turnbuckle covers, and chafe tape where chafing or snagging is possible.
DON’T… Wrap rigging or terminals with tape as that deprives the stainless of oxygen and promotes corrosion.
DO… Ask a Rigworks rep about any unusual signs of corrosion, stress, or cracks found in the rigging. Send a picture to us at info@rigworks.com to discuss a proper solution with one of our riggers.
HOW LONG WILL YOUR STANDING RIGGING LAST?
Wire Rigging has an expected lifespan of 10–12 years with proper maintenance. Real-world factors can shorten this to 7–9 years such as high mileage, tropical or salty environments, or neglected cleaning/inspections.
Rod Rigging has an expected lifespan of 15–20 years when cared for. Rod heads often fail first — not the rods. Navtec recommends a Level C inspection at 6 years or 40–60k miles that includes checking rod heads and end fittings. If cracked, the rod can often be re-headed if there’s enough turnbuckle throw left.
Environment Matters. Boats in Southern California, tropical zones, or near industrial/airport areas face 2–5 year reduction in life expectancy and a higher risk of chloride and anaerobic corrosion.
Circumnavigating? It is recommended that you replace all wire standing rigging post-circumnavigation — no exceptions.
PROFESSIONAL RIG INSPECTIONS
Why They Matter: We have the experience to catch hidden issues you might miss during personal checks, they are required by many insurance policies, and essential when purchasing a used boat.
Safety First: Prevent dismasting and catastrophic failure.
“We often catch small items like missing pins and fasteners that are easy to fix but would be detrimental if gone unnoticed.”
Rigworks recommends a yearly professional inspection for all boat types and usage levels.
More frequently for: high-mileage boats, tropical or high-salinity environments, areas with high corrosive contaminates in the atmosphere (ex: Southern California), racing or offshore vessels, and boats with aging or suspect rigging.
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