[C38] Blue Water Sailing

[Charles Finn]

Patrick,

Rigging does need to be replaced when examination of the rig warrants.  
Time can be a factor and certainly stress is one as well.  But the best 
answer in my opinion comes from a very close examination of the rigging 
and fittings.  If your stays are wire, look for broken strands 
especially near the fittings.  Some folks say wire is good for only 10 
years, but that is so highly variable to be a ridiculous statement as 
wire size, stress, salt environment, electrolysis, etc. are variables 
that can contribute.  There are many articles available on-line that you 
can easily  look into and I recommend articles by Brian Toss 
(deceased).  There are also many riggers in your area that can be hired 
to evaluate your rig.  My personal experience has been that trouble is 
usually around the fittings where the connection (usually swaging) tends 
to cause trouble.  As far as someone walking on my boat and without 
careful inspection telling me make major investments....  without 
meeting the Captain, I would wonder how much fun it would be to sail 
with him.  On the other hand I have delivered boats as a captain and 
crew over the years that were maintenance nightmares!

The rust around the thru hull is a puzzle.  The thru hull is most likely 
bronze and should not be rusting....  There lots of stains that can look 
like rust.   But any hole under the waterline deserves careful 
attention!  I would be asking a yard to take a look at all your thru hulls.

BTW,  The ride south along the coast is considered the "right way to 
go"  in terms of winds and currents.  Getting back can be challenging!!!

Regards,
Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn #114
Lake Superior

On 3/9/2021 10:10 AM, 1derful at comcast.net wrote:
> Rigging and thru haul question
> Blue Eyes has lived in SF Bay and her skipper wants to go South to 
> Oxnard about 500 miles.
> I haven't done that so I found a pilot that will do it. He visited my 
> boat yesterday and asked when was the last time standing rigging was 
> replaced.  I have owned boat for 15 years and haven't replaced.  He 
> said that it should be replaced every 12 years.
> The recommendation seems arbitrary to me.  I rarely raise the main 
> because I sail with a girl friend and usually motor or let out the 
> self furling jib so the standing rigging hasn't stressed. Should I 
> replace?
> He says it would cost about $10,000 which is ridiculous to spend on a 
> boat which may be worth $25,000.
> Next he noticed rust around the thru hull fitting for the water intake 
> to engine.  Does boat need to be hauled to fix?  It doesn't seem to be 
> leaking but since it was rusted he said that it must be.
> He declared Blue Eyes "unfit for sea travel."
> He seems like a Boy Scout to me.......life is a risk.
> I don't want to be stupid but the chance of Blue Eyes dismasting from 
> San Francisco to Los Angeles and the crew drowning seems negligible.  
> This skipper only takes Bristol boats.
> Questions are:
> 1. replace standing rigging
> 2. repair thru-hull fitting.
> Patrick
>
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