Doing Your Own Rigging

kjsailingSpring · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010

I'm considering installing my rig on my own (mast, shrouds, stays, etc...Everything from scratch) on my 35' monohull. Does anyone have advice/opinion on a complete novice doing their own rigging? Anybody do their own from a bare hull and how did it turn out?

Karen

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010

Good luck with that. while you can certainly do it...the mast on a 35' boat is a bit more complicated than you'd probably want to tackle as a complete novice. It is likely to have at least two sets of spreaders that would need to be installed, as well as all the sheaves for the halyards, tangs for the shrouds and stays, conduit for the wiring, gooseneck, exit slots, winches, etc.

Sizing the rigging, since you're building it for a known boat, wouldn't be too difficult.

Just curious as to what your motivation for doing this is? Is it to save money? Is it to learn about rigging the boat?

Also, do you have the mast, boom, etc., or are you really starting from nothing?

kjsailingSpring · #3 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

I don't have the mast, boom or anything. Truly starting from nothing. My motivation for this is equal parts financial, educational (for myself) and I am considering using Dynex Dux. There aren't many riggers in So Ca that work with it. The financial isn't that important but I thought if I could do without the rigger I would spend the extra money on an in-boom furler, which is what I really want but goes just beyond my budget.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Karen

Ulladh · #4 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

Get hold of the original specs for your boat, and if possible discuss with the designer if still available.

Then shop around for mast and rigging, installed complete or self installed.

Then make a judgement based on what your time and learning curve is worth.

Just be aware getting it wrong could be very painful.

jrd22 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

If I were you my first step would be to PM Knothead on this forum. He is a rigger in Fl and has posted a bunch of self help videos and offered innumerable posts with advice about rigging here. I have had him do a couple of projects for me (long distance through the mail) and he and his wife are extremely knowledgeable about everything rigging. I'm sure he could give you invaluable advice about your project.

nickmerc · #6 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

If you decide to use Dux (I plan to when I replace my rigging) you will most likely still need a stainless forestay so keep that in mind. If you have roller furling you will definitely need a stainless forestay.

Working with Dux is really easy. I bought a ceramic paring knife and some fids for tools. Other than that all you need is a tape measure and a Sharpie. I made my lifelines in an afternoon. The splice used (modified brummel) is easy to learn and only takes about 6-8 minutes each once you get the hang of it.

You will not save any money on materials (it may even be more expensive) but you can easily do all of the splicing yourself saving the expense of labor for the rigger.
________
Minimonro

T34C · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

If you are going to do this yourself you should really consider the amount of money you're going to save vs. how much a new rig is going to cost you if it fails. I'm all about the DIY, but you really need to do the cost/risk analysis.

kjsailingSpring · #8 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

I would love to be able to do the cost risk analysis but I don't know what percentage of risk to assign to the possibility of it failing. I guess that is why I'm looking for a someone to say "hey, I did it myself as a novice and it failed" or "it was a success".

I plan to cruise extensively with my brother, niece and nephew so I recognize it is their life at risk too. It's really not the money so much as I have found that no one will do anything on your boat as good as you will due to the level of care taken to get it right and done well. I have found this to be true on things like bottom jobs, plumbing, etc... however, this may not apply to rigging because riggers have a certain amount of liability built into their position.

I think I will definitely PM Knothead and ask him advice and hope I get some more great feedback here.

T34C · #9 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

I would think there would be very little risk in getting the spars and hardware and putting everything together ready to go up. You could then have a rigger make and install the stays and shrouds.

Knothead would be a good option.

SVCarolena · #10 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010

I also suggest reaching out to Knothead (Steve). He made the new wire for our boat, which we installed ourselves. Was a pretty simple process with his guidance, although we already had a mast in place and were replacing one wire at a time while the rig was still up. We looked into the new hi-tech rigging, but in the end found that wire was much cheaper and a better option for how we use our boat and how long we plan to keep it (meaning I don't expect to replace rigging again during our ownership).