Learn to Sail Like a Pro - Seven Standing Rigging Presail Checks
Have you ever wondered why a pilot of a small private airplane always uses a checklist before take off. He or she wouldn't think of leaving land without this. If you want to learn to sail like a pro, it all starts at the dock--before you get underway! Just like that pilot, you need to develop a checklist and use it every time.
Check for missing cotter pins from the lower ends of shrouds and stays. Both of these sailboats have missing cotter pins. Notice how the turnbuckle barrels could back off from the threaded swages and lead to mast failure.
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Put these seven standing rigging checks at the top of your sailing checklist!1. Shroud and Stay Cotter Pins Cotter pins are those nautical bobby pins that hold your standing rigging together. Cruising sailboats can have 30 or more. Look for cotters in the ends of the stays, shrouds and the headsail furling drum. Follow the easy steps below to size a cotter pin: How to Size a Cotter Pin a. Push the pin through the hole for a snug fit.
b. Shorten the legs to 1½ times the diameter of the fitting.
c. Spread the legs 25 degrees.
d. Dab the ends with silicone.
e. Do not tape over cotters because this prevents inspection. 2. Lifeline Integrity Turnbuckles or pelican hooks form the end of your lifelines. All turnbuckle ends must have cotter pins. Pelican hook ends must have the bail secured over the hook to prevent failure. Tape over the bail for added security.
Meathooks can injure your crew. Clip, file, and tape over them for a quick temporary repair. (illustration from Seamanship Secrets)
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Check all along each lifeline wire for broken wire strands.These are called "meathooks", caused by wire fatigue and strand failure. Cut off meathooks close to the wire. Then file them down. Use waterproof rigging tape or duct tape to cover the meathook as a temporary repair. Replace the entire lifeline wire as soon as possible. This will maintain your lifeline integrity.
3. Turnbuckle Sleeves Look for bent or cracked turnbuckle sleeves. Check that all clevis pins, toggles and swaged end fittings have cotter pins. Make sure you can see 3/4" of the swaged end, on each side of any turnbuckle sleeve. 4. Sheets, Halyards and Blocks Check for chafe where the headsail sheets attach to the clew. Look for wear on mainsail or headsail halyards. Inspect traveler, boom vang or mainsheet block lines for chafe. Replace worn lines. 5. Furling Line Look inside the headsail furling drum for knots or snarls. Check furling line chafe between the drum on the bow and furling line cleat in the cockpit. Replace chafed furling line right away. 6. Mainsail Jiffy Reefing Lines Get ready now for heavy sailing weather. Set up all jiffy reefing lines. Keep plenty of slack in the reef luff and reef clew lines. 7. Mainsail Traveler Track Lubricate the traveler track so that the mainsheet car slides without friction from side to side. Use a light waterproof lubricant or bees wax. ******************** Prevent sailing rigging failure with a simple pre-sail inspection list that includes these vital check points. Learn to sail like a pro when you develop the habits that will keep you and your sailing crew safe and sound--wherever in the world you choose to sail!
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