rigging

[everyday]

I am new to the board and would like to tap some expertise is galvanized rigging. I am planning a rerig of my schooner. The rigging is parceled and served galvanized 7x19 and I plan to replace is with the same.
I understand galvanized wire is manufactured in different qualities and would like some recommendationson where to look for high quality wire. I would also appreciate some information on methods and materials for parceling and serving.

Thanks
Ships Crew

[Bob Cleek]

Buy "The Rigger's Apprentice" from the WoodenBoat store. It will have most all you need in there. There's a lot to recommend stainless rigging wire, except for splicing it, which is difficult. Galvanized will last as long as the boat does, but requires more maintenance. You can get a serving mallet from Toplicht mail order or make your own. "Worm and parcel with the lay, turn and serve the other way." Good work for the ship's "idiot boy."

[Ian McColgin]

You can also turn to Brion Toss, the author of "Rigger's Apprentice", at www.briontoss.com (http://www.briontoss.com) for info on galvi availability.

Brion shows a serving mallet nicknamed "Runaround Sue" that speeds up serving a long streatch. It really works - I made one and get a huge kick out of it.

As it happened, I has an unused merriman style furler - top swivel and the lower drum - and found this made for an ever nicer approach to full length service. Put your made up stay on that between a couple of trees with plenty of stress. You'll have modified the lower drum to have a nice big belt wheel on it. A motor with a pretty small belt wheel and you're in business for a moderate rpm operation.

It's hard, but not impossible, to lay the worming in under power, especially if you've a second even larger wheel to make the speed nice and slow.

Turn the motor around to parcel. This is nice to have a couple of people on so you can feed the cloth and slush it simultaneously.

Finally, motor back around and set up the serving mallet.

Try to have the RPMs low enough that you're not throwing slush all over the yard.

Guarenteed finastkind job in no time flat.

[everyday]

Bob, thanks for the recommendation. Got a copy of the Rigger's Apprentice on the way.

[everyday]

Ian, good info. I will contact Brian about the galvanize. I have been trying to come up with a system that would make the worming, parceling and serving go a little faster, looks like the system you describe will work fine and save lots of time. We will move the boat from Venezuela to Trinidad later this month to do the job. I will share my learning experience and may even include a couple of pictures.