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Solved problems · Rigging · Crew answer

How do I inspect standing rigging for cracks and wear?

Cracked swage fittings, broken strands and worn pins give warning before a rig fails. Here's what to look for, and when wire and fittings are due for replacement.

Symptom

You're preparing for a season or a passage, the rigging is older, or you've spotted rust stains, a cracked terminal or broken strands.

Likely cause

Stainless wire and terminals fatigue and corrode. Swage fittings at deck level can trap water that rusts inside and splits the shank. Cracks may be very fine. Broken outer strands, bent or 'banana' swages, worn clevis pins and elongated holes are other warning signs. As a general guide, Practical Sailor suggests replacing the wire on a typical cruising boat after 10 to 12 years, assuming the terminals and fittings are still sound.

Stop now if

You find any crack in a swage, terminal, tang or chainplate, or a broken strand. Don't sail on it. A horizontal crack in a swage is especially serious. Have a rigger replace the part. Never go aloft without a proper bosun's chair or climbing harness, a second halyard as a backup, and an experienced person on the winch.

The fix, in short

  1. Inspect from deck. Clean each lower terminal and look closely with a magnifying glass for hairline cracks, rust weeping from the top of the swage, and bends.

  2. Run a rag along the wire. Slide a rag up the wire as far as you can reach. It snags on broken strands.

  3. Check pins, toggles and turnbuckles. Look for worn or bent clevis pins, missing cotter pins, cracked toggles and corroded threads.

  4. Check chainplates. Look for rust stains, leaks and movement where chainplates pass through the deck. Leaks here can hide corrosion below deck.

  5. Inspect aloft or with the mast down. Upper terminals, tangs and spreader ends need a close look aloft, or a full inspection when the mast is unstepped. The UK MCA guidance recommends regular professional rig inspection.

  6. Plan replacement. Replace wire and terminals on a schedule that reflects age, mileage and climate, not just how they look.

Written by Sailor Cruiser crew. General guidance, not an inspection of your boat.

Equipment involved

  • Rigging: Wire shrouds and stays, swage and mechanical terminals, toggles, turnbuckles, tangs and chainplates

Related guides

Sources

Background reading we checked while writing this answer. The wording above is our own.

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