How to check your rigging

Maintenance of your rigging can save expensive failures and could ultimately be a lifesaver, advises Ben Meakins

- Ben Meakins

The first time most people realise something is wrong with their rig is when something breaks,’ says Dennis Fisher of Advanced Rigging & Hydraulics. Keeping your rigging in good condition can be a lifesaver, but it can be hard to know when to replace the standing rigging, and to know what to look for before you start the season to ensure your rig stays up throughout the year.

“Think of a rig as a coat hanger,” says Dennis. “You can repeatedly bend a coat hanger vigorously and it’ll break quickly, or you can work it slowly for a long time – but it will still break. Standing rigging is the same. Even if your boat has been hardly used for 10 years, it will still have the potential for something to break when you least expect it.”

Insurance companies generally recommend that you replace your standing rigging after 10 years – and most riggers agree this is a reasonable life expectancy. “It’s impossible to tell exactly how long rigging will last,” says Dennis, “but there’s a lot you can do to ensure you spot any problems early enough.”

So what preventative maintenance should you carry out to ensure your rig will last as long as possible?

TOP TIP

If you’ve found any black water stains (aluminium oxide and water) on deck, that’s a sign that something is wearing or moving that shouldn’t be – time to investigate!