The Sailboat Rigging

Sailboat rigging is one of the most important parts of your sailboat. It is the lines, shrouds and halyards that are used to support the mast and sails of the sailboat. The wind can put a lot of pressure on the sails and mast so the rigging has to be in good condition. Sailboat rigging is more important than we think.

There are two kinds of sailboat rigging, standing and running. Standing rigging is between the mast and the deck. It is usually made of a steel cable. There is a lot of tension on the standing rigging because it holds the mast in place. You should check this frequently and wash it down good with boat soap and water every spring. This will get rid of debris, impurities and salt, if in a salt water environment, that could cause your sailboat rigging to break down and deteriorate then eventually malfunction. I personally do not want to be out on the water and have a problem. A simple wash down every year could prevent this.

The other type of rigging is running rigging. Running rigging controls the sails, their shape and position. The size of the sailboat determines the size of line you will need. The size of the sailboat determines the size of line you will need. The wind puts a lot of tension on the sails so the lines that control them need to be strong enough yet flexible enough to allow for fluid movement of the sails. On our sailboat, the lines to the mainsail are blue to match the stripe on our boat. The line to the jib or front sail is gold. I have a Canadian friend who takes her lines off every year and puts them in a pillow case to wash in her washer at home. She brings them back to the boat in the spring washed and inspected for any frayed areas.

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The main thing to remember is to inspect your sailboat rigging at least once a year. Sail and Rig Tuning is a book to help you "tune " your standing rigging whenever it needs it. That means to adjust the rigging by tightening or loosening it. If you learn better by watching, Tuning your Rig is a video you can rent to help you learn to tune your rigging. Anytime you think of it, take a look at the rigging. Look at the dock lines and replace them when needed. Look at the boom-vang, main sheets, jib sheets, topping lift and halyards. Check the turnbuckles and chain plates. Make sure they are angled so that they line up with the shrouds and stays on your sailboat. Any bending will eventually make the metal fail and the chain plates could leak or if you are caught out in a good blow the metal could break. Wind is a very strong element. We should not underestimate its power. This Deluxe Rigging Knife is a great tool to assist you with fine tuning your rigging. Get yours today!

There is no way to guarantee that everything will always go smoothly but you can do you part to cut the chances that something will go wrong, if you keep an eye on the sailboat rigging. Sailing is what leaves me satisfied but wanting more at the same time and if I can have more peace of mind while sailing then that’s even better.

	Sailboat Rigging Sailboat rigging is one of the most important parts of your sailboat. It is the lines, shrouds and halyards that are used to support the mast and sails of the sailboat. The wind can put a lot of pressure on the sails and mast so the rigging has to be in good condition. Sailboat rigging is more important than we think. There are two kinds of sailboat rigging, standing and running. Standing rigging is between the mast and the deck. It is usually made of a steel cable. There is a lot of tension on the standing rigging because it holds the mast in place. You should check this frequently and wash it down good with boat soap and water every spring. This will get rid of debris, impurities and salt, if in a salt water environment, that could cause your sailboat rigging to break down and deteriorate then eventually malfunction. I personally do not want to be out on the water and have a problem. A simple wash down every year could prevent this. The other type of rigging is running rigging. Running rigging controls the sails, their shape and position. The size of the sailboat determines the size of line you will need. The size of the sailboat determines the size of line you will need. The wind puts a lot of tension on the sails so the lines that control them need to be strong enough yet flexible enough to allow for fluid movement of the sails. On our sailboat, the lines to the mainsail are blue to match the stripe on our boat. The line to the jib or front sail is gold. I have a Canadian friend who takes her lines off every year and puts them in a pillow case to wash in her washer at home. She brings them back to the boat in the spring washed and inspected for any frayed areas. Buy at AllPosters.com The main thing to remember is to inspect your sailboat rigging at least once a year. Sail and Rig Tuning is a book to help you "tune " your standing rigging whenever it needs it. That means to adjust the rigging by tightening or loosening it. If you learn better by watching, Tuning your Rig is a video you can rent to help you learn to tune your rigging. Anytime you think of it, take a look at the rigging. Look at the dock lines and replace them when needed. Look at the boom-vang, main sheets, jib sheets, topping lift and halyards. Check the turnbuckles and chain plates. Make sure they are angled so that they line up with the shrouds and stays on your sailboat. Any bending will eventually make the metal fail and the chain plates could leak or if you are caught out in a good blow the metal could break. Wind is a very strong element. We should not underestimate its power. This Deluxe Rigging Knife is a great tool to assist you with fine tuning your rigging. Get yours today! There is no way to guarantee that everything will always go smoothly but you can do you part to cut the chances that something will go wrong, if you keep an eye on the sailboat rigging. Sailing is what leaves me satisfied but wanting more at the same time and if I can have more peace of mind while sailing then that’s even better.