Evaluating rod rigging

drawson1 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-27-2009

We are looking at a 1984 cruising boat; the boat currently has rod rigging (I don't know the age). How does it get evaluated? How does a surveyor decide "this needs a more detailed check". With wire, there are often visible indications that there's a problem, but I don't see how that could happen with the rod rigging. What's the "nominal" life time? The boat in question is a 35 foot boat that has been cruised regularly for many summers, but (AFAIK) has never been a live-aboard or long-term cruising boat.

Sailormann · #2 (**permalink**) 04-27-2009

I have never had it but my understandiong of the stuff is that it reaches a certain level of fatigue and then just lets go. A professional rigger may be able to assess the state of the rods. Personally, I would be erring on the side of caution and replacing it. It's 25 years old and there may be corrosion in places you can't see.

It can probably be X-rayed if you get it off the boat.

Good Luck !

KeelHaulin · #3 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009

Yes; it must be x-rayed and in particular at the heads and where it bends across the spreaders. The problem with this is that usually the inspection process is more expensive than switching over to wire rigging.

At 25 years old the rod rigging is near the end of it's useful life. After this point it is a gamble against "trusting" that the rigging will not fail due to fatigue; which usually results in a dis-masting if it does fail. You can never know for sure unless it is either x-rayed; or just replaced with either new rod or wire.

drawson1 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009

OK, thanks . . . . sort of what I thought. We're budgeting for replacement if we go ahead with the offer on this boat . . . . .

tommays · #5 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009

On my friends boat they tested the old rod on the heading machine and it could not be redone So it was declared dead

sailingfool · #6 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009

FWIW, round New England there are plenty of mid to late '70s C&C stills sailng with the original rod rigging. Assume the worset for your purchase, then hire a rigger to inspect the rigiging before changing it.

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009

If you're planning on cruising to more remote regions, switching to wire rigging is a very good idea, since carrying a spare shroud or stay is much simpler with wire rigging.

KeelHaulin · #8 (**permalink**) 04-29-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by drawson1

OK, thanks . . . . sort of what I thought. We're budgeting for replacement if we go ahead with the offer on this boat . . . . .

Or what you could do is have a rigging survey done and the surveyor would pretty much recommend replacement. You could then deduct it from the value of the boat in your post-survey valuation/price adjustment.

Faster · #9 (**permalink**) 04-29-2009

If you decide to stick with the existing rigging, take the time to slacken things off and check that the heads are not seized in the sockets. If possible at that time lube the area with lanacote.

When a rod stresses (as in going over a wave) it tends to twist a bit as it loads. If the head cannot move then the rod fatigues below the seized head and can eventually fail there.... no need to ask how I know!

tommays · #10 (**permalink**) 04-29-2009

Well

From what i have seen when rod is 20 years old and its been used hard the heading machine tells the truth as it will not take a NEW head