On theWater On the Water
The time of year has come to start thinking about bringing your vessel ashore and getting her ready for the winter season. This month we look at masts, standing and running rigging. By Jamie Coombes - Pedros Yacht Services
he time of year has come to start thinking about bringing your vessel ashore and getting her ready for the winter season. this month we will look at masts, standing and running rigging. Yacht masts and associated fittings are made up of modern materials requiring less maintenance than the wooden spars and hemp rope used many years ago. However, they do need looking after and checking periodically.
T
Aluminium masts do corrode, espe- cially in the fittings where salt water eats away around the fitting and into the surface. this needs to be spotted early and dealt with to stop any spread. Often if this is spotted early enough, then it may be a case of a simple repair carried out by your local mast specialist. Many modern cruising yachts nowadays have in-mast furling mainsails - the internal mechanisms need attention and the mov- ing parts will need cleaning the head sail furler needs checking to ensure its good operation as well as making sure it is clean and free from dirt and corrosion. Head sail furlers and in mast furling systems can be very compli- cated and it may be wise to call in your local mast and rigging specialist. Standing rigging failure is the big- gest culprit of a mast falling down. Most insurance companies insist on regular rig checks from an approved mast and rigging specialist and, depending on the insurer, often this needs to be carried out annually. i would advise you to check your insurance policy as all too often we hear about a mast loss where the insurer has refused to pay out due to the mast and rigging not being regularly checked. Such failures are frequently caused by fractured or corroded wire terminals high aloft where they are never or hardly ever inspected by the owner. A mast failure can be an expensive business, possibly resulting in structural damage to the boat
as well as the loss of sails, booms, and running rigging. winter is also when you should consider upgrading the equipment around the mast; especially if items are showing signs of wear. worn blocks will damage rope and result in, sometimes, costly replacement. Modern deck hardware manufactur- ers such as Antal and Selden offer hardwearing blocks using modern materials for every application. A Selden rod kicker with a gas strut in place will make mainsail han- dling easier and a telescopic pole will make a great addition to any cruising yacht. Again, being easy to handle and shorter, they are much easier to stow when not in use. Your boat’s running rigging may well need replacement. rope manu- facturer, english braids, now offer a
high performance rope, with many of the characteristics of a racing Dyneema rope (low stretch) but with the softer cover required on a cruising yacht. Many cruising yachts have braid on braid hal- yards, which have enormous stretch whereas cruising Dyneema offers virtually no stretch. if you own a racing yacht, you may consider technora, which is a composite fibre rope with a very high melting point so it does not wear around winches like more conventional braids. it also offers incredibly low stretch and great handling characteristics. this material was developed from America’s Cup campaigns and the volvo ocean race, for which it was originally designed. contd over
87
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126