Roger Long wrote:
I would certainly agree with 10 years in salt water although very few
people actually do. I can't remember seeing or hearing of a dismasted
coastal cruiser.

You don't get out enough. Happens several times a year in
pretty much every major sailing area. I know of 2 on the
Chesapeake last year, for example, and that's just the ones
I heard of (happened to friend of a friend etc etc).





rhys wrote:
There's the obvious eyeball "tests" of looking for cracks, rust
weeping, deformation of holes, fraying wire, terminals with
suspiciously shiny wire, etc.


Another key to look for is uneven lay to the strands.

Most faults in standing rigging require at least a
magnifying glass to spot. I use a magnifyer plus a 18V xenon
work light.


There's the dye tests. Interpreting those is a rigger's art.


Not really. The dye is just to show smaller cracks &
porosities than could be seen with just a magnifiier &
bright light.

There's the X-ray tests. Even more so.

I have 1/4" original (33 years) 7 x 19 standing rigging all around in
freshwater with good quality Merriman open turnbuckles which I inspect
and lube yearly. I eyeball the entire spar before launch, paying
particular attention to cotter pins, tangs, etc. My insurance company
isn't making a fuss, and the boat passes survey requirements.



I'm surprised some of the tangs don't have elongated
holes... bet you've replaced pins a couple of times... 33
years would make me nervous, but the expense of replacing
standing rigging would also make me hesitate.

IMHO there's no reason to replace standing rigging without
some indications from proper inspection.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On Sun, 01 Jan 2006, DSK wrote:

Roger Long wrote:\

I would certainly agree with 10 years in salt water
although very few people actually do. I can't remember
seeing or hearing of a dismasted coastal cruiser.

You don't get out enough. Happens several times a year
in pretty much every major sailing area. I know of 2 on
the Chesapeake last year, for example, and that's just
the ones I heard of (happened to friend of a friend etc
etc).

Two boats that are kept in our marina on the L.I. Sound, in an area
where folk generally do monitor and attend to the condition of their
boats, were dismasted last summer, and we saw at least three others
(boats ranging in size from +/- 25' to +/- 42') and, on one
particularly active racing/sailing weekend, I heard of three other
dismasted boats in the area while monitor the radio (and seeing SeaTow
or BoatUS boats speeding to the distressed callers).

Happens more than that out here...

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
Roger Long wrote:
I would certainly agree with 10 years in salt water although very few
people actually do. I can't remember seeing or hearing of a dismasted
coastal cruiser.

You don't get out enough. Happens several times a year in pretty much
every major sailing area. I know of 2 on the Chesapeake last year, for
example, and that's just the ones I heard of (happened to friend of a
friend etc etc).





rhys wrote:
There's the obvious eyeball "tests" of looking for cracks, rust
weeping, deformation of holes, fraying wire, terminals with
suspiciously shiny wire, etc.


Another key to look for is uneven lay to the strands.

Most faults in standing rigging require at least a magnifying glass to
spot. I use a magnifyer plus a 18V xenon work light.


There's the dye tests. Interpreting those is a rigger's art.


Not really. The dye is just to show smaller cracks & porosities than could
be seen with just a magnifiier & bright light.

There's the X-ray tests. Even more so.

I have 1/4" original (33 years) 7 x 19 standing rigging all around in
freshwater with good quality Merriman open turnbuckles which I inspect
and lube yearly. I eyeball the entire spar before launch, paying
particular attention to cotter pins, tangs, etc. My insurance company
isn't making a fuss, and the boat passes survey requirements.



I'm surprised some of the tangs don't have elongated holes... bet you've
replaced pins a couple of times... 33 years would make me nervous, but the
expense of replacing standing rigging would also make me hesitate.

IMHO there's no reason to replace standing rigging without some
indications from proper inspection.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 19:58:48 -0500, DSK wrote:


I'm surprised some of the tangs don't have elongated
holes... bet you've replaced pins a couple of times...

Yes, I carry spares and replace many cotter pins per year and some
clevis pins as necessary. Others are in (visible) good shape. There's
nothing currently that's elongated save for a slight deformation on a
chain plate. I've replaced a couple of bolts there and I believe that
improper tightening was at least partly at fault.

33
years would make me nervous, but the expense of replacing
standing rigging would also make me hesitate.

Yeah, it's a biggie...probably between $5,000 to $8,000 Cdn.

IMHO there's no reason to replace standing rigging without
some indications from proper inspection.

Which I try to do. I also know the history of the boat, me being the
fourth owner in the same club, and knowing that it hasn't been raced
since the early '80s, just conservatively cruised on the Great Lakes.

Which is not to say there might not be a major problem I can't see. So
I've started to save for the season (in the next three or four) when I
have everything redone, the spreaders remade, the sheaves and internal
halyards replaced, and I myself will cut out and reglass the entire
forward bilge/mast step area.

The fact that I also sail conservatively and yet regularly take the
boat out in heavy air gives me some confidence, as does the generally
overbuilt qualities of an Ontario Yacht make of a C&C design from just
before epoxy got expensive. G

R.