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Standing Rigging Replacement

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Alan & Cheryl Shedd
I am looking to purchase a 1981 382.

The pre-purchase survey turned up cracks in 4 swages, cracked turnbuckle, cracked clevis tang. Rig is probably original. Given the age and observed problems, looks like I should replace the standing rigging - concerned that there could be more I haven't seen.

Anyone replaced standing rigging recently? I'm looking for ballpark prices. I hope to be a 382 owner soon.

Thanks.

-Alan
acshedd@mindspring.com
770-654-0027
 
I recently purchased an entire set with 3/8' uppers (minus turnbuckles) from Sailnet in Charleston, SC. for $2300. Ask for Brother Mallard. NewJSI also gave a competitive quote Annapolis Rigging are a top outfit but expensive

Jesse Garman
 
As noted recently, I just had my whole rig done with new Profurl furler and standing rigging with Sta-lok's.
I used MMR in Annapolis - he was very fair - $2300 for the furler and I think it was $2100 for the rigging. All installed - to include stepping the mast and full tune.
 
Oh yes - when I had the boat insurance surveyed for ocean sailing, the guy said I could loose the wires and our tree trunk would be just fine...
 
Tony, Terry, the remark may have been taken out of context. He may have been admiring the strength and construction of the mast, and made the remark without really thinking.
Maybe,
Larry
 
Gents - come on now - for me to take that personally would be downright silly! Of course he said that tongue'n cheek. It's just a very robust system compared to today's standard. I was very pleased because it raised my confidence of one less thing to worry about offshore...the rigging is really beefy on our boats - yes - thank you! it will last!
Hell ask Dick who's done all the Marion races! he knows from personal experience!
 
Sure the mast is big and strong, and I think the surveyor was making fun of the unnecessary size. The boat would perform better and have better stability if it was a nice tapered spar. Look at the Phil Rhodes designs from the 40s and 50s. Those beautiful wooden masts, built up as long spruce boxes, always got smaller as they ascended. But we all compromise one way or another and the MOrgan is an impressive combination of good compromises. I have to say, I occasionally look at other boats for sale and I cannot figure out why Morgan 38xs are so cheap--except there were lots made.
 
I don't know the intent of the post concerning replacing the standing rigging without stepping the mast, but I have heard this discussed before.

If doing it yourself this could mean replacing one wire at time, using a halyard to provide support for the missing wire - lots of trips up and down.

In an operation with more resources the number of trips could be reduced.

Jim Golding
 
I'm presently having insulators installed on the back stay and the riggers here strongly advise against using the old fittings and wire. They indicate that any boat 22 years old, even though it's been in fresh water all along, should have all the standing rigging replaced.

Therefore, Tony could you please tell me who MMR in Annapolis is and are you still pleased with them?

Thanks...............Kevin
 
Kevin,

I just googled MMR Annapolis and came up with a possibility; http://www.maddenrigging.com

Please let me know what info you get from them. I'm planning to completely redo our standing rigging and the estimate we have is considerably more than the numbers talked about here last year. I'll be calling them just as soon as I can.

Terry
 
Thanks Terry. I've just ordered the backstay with three insulators and new everything and it's costing $950.00 from Chesapeake Rigging. I won't be having the remainder done until next year but thought I'd do a little research beforehand.
 
Jim,

While you did not comment on my previous question on another recent thread about replacing rigging with the mast up. In this thread, you claim it can be done. Could you explain how the mast needs to be supported, or if it needs to at all?

Certainly others on this site have encountered this question. Also, I would think others have run into the problem with military forks and replacing swaged forks with mechanical terminal forks on shrouds(different pin size). Learning from each other is the basis of our site. If you have knowledge on these subjects, please share them.

Thanks,
John
 
Replacing standing rigging while the stick is in the boat is risky at best, dangerous most of the time, and occassionaly deadly. However, professionals routinely do it safely. A rigger will either devise a temporary shroud or stay from a halyard or will rig one from low stretch line. I've never done it nor would I attempt it, depite the believe that I know I could do it. You need people on the ground that know what they are doing as well as what you are trying to do at the top of the mast. Good upper body strength and agility don't hurt either. If you need the praticulars on how its done, I suggest you ask someone who has seen your vessel and can show you how to do it.

You could also pull the mast out and do it in the yard.

Good luck and best of wishes.

Jay
 
You can use the running rigging, if it will hold up sails, it will hold a person. Just do one at a time. I have seen it done and is not hard, but is time consuming.
Jim
 
I still do not understand the reference to "military forks"? Every yard I have dealt with uses marine grade fittings. Am I missing something? There is no reason to remove the mast unless you need to do other maintenance, paint it, or run wiring.
Jim
 
I had all my standing rigging replaced in 2007 and it was done with the mast in place. A rigger down here on the Rio Dulce gave me all measurements, and I had it made up in the US and brought it back on one of my trips. It was replaced one wire at a time without any problem. With the mast being keel stepped, the support at the deck, plus only one stay or shroud being removed at a time, it was no problem at all. When replacing the forestay and backstay, a halyard was used for extra support.

Bill Williams
 
Thanks Jay for your response! I would like to replace my upper shrouds (about $400 ea. if I do it myself)this year, and others piece meal in maybe 6mo. or a year to spread out the cost. If I pull the stick, the whole bill will go to near $4000. I would need to do everything at one time, plus replacement roller furling drum and extrusion,$900 from Hood since this happens with the forestay. I already replaced the halyard swivel so I stick with Hood. Then add tricolor light, yard bill, etc. Plus each of the other stays or shrouds at ~ $400 adds up. Good chance I will need the cut off the bottom few inches of the mast due to corrosion and pitting too. Modify the mast step, another $200 to $400 is a guess on that.

But if I have the drill out the tangs or otherwise modify them loft, this is also a problem. So I guess I need to bite the bullet and spend the money,and step the mast. It is a lot better than dismasting!

I need to go aloft and inspect the upper fittings real well, then decide on the urgency and timing. No doubt I will rerig her, just when and how.

Jim, please call Glen at JSI (http://www.newjsi.com/) for his discussion on Military spec vs, aircraft. I know nothing more than he said most Morgans have mil, and the depth of he fork is different requiring modification of the tang. Plus the fork end of the swage is open. If this is true, others must have encountered the same issues. As an engineer, I am not surprised to hear of more than one specification on swaged fittings, and assume that "marine grade" indicates material (316 SS) not design.

Bill, did he do the shrouds without supporting the mast? From your reply, it sound like he did not.

Thanks to all,
John
 
John:

He did not add any support while changing the shrouds. He was a pretty big guy at about 225 lb. and in a bosun chair up top. Just replaced them one at a time. ie. the mast was supported by the old port upper and all 4 lowers, plus forestay and backstay, while he had the starboard upper off. Never more than one stay or shroud off at any time.
 
In all the years of following this Board, I have never heard of anyone having issues with replacement of their standing rigging. When I did mine, I simply took the old rigging into the rig shop and they returned new complete shrouds and I installed without any problems. I do not see a reason to drill out tangs.

In addition, I have never heard of a Morgan that has experienced a standing rigging failure. Hopefully, no of us will!
Jim
 
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