MASTS AND RIGGING
A sailing rig is put under huge stresses and strains so regular inspections of spars and rigging are vital, as Simon Jollands explains
Considerable forces are exerted on all the elements of a sailing rig –the mast, spreaders, boom, kicker, stays and the fittings that hold everything together –when at sea.
Less obvious, perhaps, is that the process of cyclic loading–the cause of metal fatigue–continues unabated even when a boat is merely rocking gently on a sheltered mooring. The rig components continue to push and pull against each other, day in and day out.
Added to all the stresses and strains imposed on the rig components are their susceptibility to different kinds of corrosion, caused in the case of aluminium masts both by exposure to the marine environment and by galvanic corrosion.
Galvanic corrosion occurs when stainless steel or bronze fittings are fitted to aluminium masts and not adequately insulated from each other, which causes the aluminium to corrode. While wooden masts do not suffer from galvanic corrosion, instead they are susceptible to rot and delamination.
Rig care
As with many other kinds of boat care, regular checks, preventative maintenance and the correct set-up of mast and rigging are key to ensuring longevity and preventing failure. With sailing boat rigs in particular, the integrity of all their parts is vital. The mast and rigging are a lightweight structure designed to be rigid and strong.
A bit like a house of cards, if one of the components fails the whole house comes tumbling down. Even if one part becomes loose this can increase loads on other parts, causing them to fail.
While doing regular checks of your rig throughout the sailing season is good practice, so too is a more detailed inspection when the boat comes ashore and the mast can be taken down. Even if the rig remains unstepped ashore, it still needs to be checked by a trained eye.
Understanding your rig
There are many kinds of mast and rig configurations for sailing boats and it’s important to fully understand the rig set-up of your particular boat. Here are a few questions that owners should be able to answer:
STANDING RIGGING
What are the main causes of rig failure? n When was the mast last unstepped? Once every two or three years is generally recommended.
When was the standing rigging last inspected? Annual inspections are usually recommended.
When was the standing rigging last replaced? Once every 10 years or so is usually recommended for wire rigging and about 15 years for rod rigging. n Where are the main stress points on your rig?
How do you check the rig alignment?
RUNNING RIGGING
When was the running rigging last inspe
