[C320-list] rigging

[Graeme Clark]

I have just finished replacing the standing rigging on my 1996 320, which I bought last year; the previous (original) owner had never replaced it. he claimed never to have been sailing in anything greater than 25knots but I decided not to risk it. I just didnt  want to be mid-passage somewhere, the wind freshen up and be always wondering what weakness might lie undiscovered.

It used to be the case that insurance companies required standing rigging replacement evry 5 years, then it became every 10, then every 15 and so on! My company did not insist on it but they made the point that if I had a loss and it was attributed to lack of routine maintenece then there could be an argument about liability!

So - what was the old rigging like - well, from the outside I couldnt see a problem and nor could the riggers but they made the point that in may cases there will be internal corrosion and even siophisticated tests like the eddy current test are no guarantee.

Theres some good info about fatugue failure in rigging here http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Fatigue.aspx

I decided to have the mast un-stepped and strip the old rigging myself, send it to a supplier to match up new, and refit it myself, employing a rigger only for the re-stepping and rig tuning which I wnst confident of doing.

The unexpected plus side of this was that I got to really see how the rig was put together and undersatand how the spreaders are held to the mast, how the wires run through the spreder tips, how they are held in place and so on. With the amst down all this could be done eaisly with two feet on the ground and gave me the oportunity to easily run new wiring, fit new aerial, nav lights and examine the masthead components such as sheaves for repair or replacement if necessary.

And I got to gibee everything a really good clean up!

If you dont replace your rigging then at the very least you need to be happy regulalry going up the mast in a harness or chair to inspect the swaged ends of the riggings for any sign of broken wires.

Finally the original rigging screws (turnbuckles/bottle screws) fitted to early Catalinas - the ones with the slide on stainless steel tubular covers) seem to be universally derided, these days, by any rigger as being the perfect design to retain corrosive seawater and hide what’s going on. 
Hope this helps

Graeme
#366, ‘Jaskar’, Falmouth Cornwall, UK




Message: 6
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 05:51:42 -0700
From: Michael Ferguson <coralman at bellsouth.net>
To: 320 <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] rigging
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Hi all

Just a thought. Has anyone replaced their standing rigging our had any failures. Nauti Clew is 20 yes old and I use her often in 20 plus not winds. I check for stress cracks etc but worry about aging parts. Also the steering cable same age. Thanks

Michael

Nauti Clew 169

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