Rigging

[RT MAN]

What type of rigging do you have on your boat?
Vintage cotton or a modern nylon or other material

Rufus

[BBSebens]

3/8" Stainless twisted wire. looks and performs nicely on my 31' ketch.

[Ian McColgin]

There's standing rigging and running rigging.

Standing rigging holds the mast(s) straight and sometimes is the stay up which a staysail or jib runs. These have been metal of some sort for a couple of centuries now. Traditional might be spliced wire; wormed, parceled and served to prevent rust. Modern would be 1x19 stainless, stainless rod, or an exotic fibre like spectra.

Running rigging controls the sails. It has always been important that running rigging not stretch too much. For that reason, modern rigging never has used nylon. Dacron in many forms, including dacrons that look like manila, has been contemporary for more than a half century. Some natural fibers remain in limited use but not cotton. Very modern usage has post dacron fibres like spectra and beyond.

Cotton suitable for making sails - this is not is really rigging but maybe what what meant when cotton was mentioned - is hard to find and just not as good as the variety of dacron and post-dacron fabrics, some of which (like dacron line) are made to look and feel like traditional natural fibres.

G'luck

[RT MAN]

There's standing rigging and running rigging.

Standing rigging holds the mast(s) straight and sometimes is the stay up which a staysail or jib runs. These have been metal of some sort for a couple of centuries now. Traditional might be spliced wire; wormed, parceled and served to prevent rust. Modern would be 1x19 stainless, stainless rod, or an exotic fibre like spectra.

Running rigging controls the sails. It has always been important that running rigging not stretch too much. For that reason, modern rigging never has used nylon. Dacron in many forms, including dacrons that look like manila, has been contemporary for more than a half century. Some natural fibers remain in limited use but not cotton. Very modern usage has post dacron fibres like spectra and beyond.

Cotton suitable for making sails - this is not is really rigging but maybe what what meant when cotton was mentioned - is hard to find and just not as good as the variety of dacron and post-dacron fabrics, some of which (like dacron line) are made to look and feel like traditional natural fibres.

G'luck
Thank you Ian , I'm about to order the standing rigging and running rigging for the Alerion 111, stainless steel and dacron is what I will be getting.
I've been waiting for the plans from MIT it must have been Manilla that was used in 1912 for the running rigging.

Cotton was just a guess I'm just a baby when it comes to antique boats. I should go change my diaper now.

Rufus

[Bob Cleek]

No, I doubt Nathaniell Herreshoff ever saw a piece of "manila" rope on any vessel he ever designed. The standard was hemp line back then. Stainless and dacron blends are now standard for standing and running rigging, but if you want to recreate a real Alerion replica, you'd probably want to use plow steel standing rigging and hemp running rigging with cotton sails. Just to make you really crazy!

[Jay Greer]

I am now substituting Spectra Braid in places where I would normally use wire.
This ultra light line is stronger than steel and has less stretch.
Jay

[Michael Beckman]

What happens if something sharp hits it?

[Jay Greer]

What happens if something sharp hits it?
The stuff is vertually impossible to cut with side cutters or even a fresh box knife. A hot knife is the only tool that works.
Jay

[kc8pql]

The stuff is vertually impossible to cut with side cutters or even a fresh box knife. A hot knife is the only tool that works.
Jay

I agree. I played with a piece of spectra not to long ago. I'm thinking of using it to replace my SS running backs.

[soba]

I'm using Amsteel or Lightning in place of galvanized wire where ever I can. I love the ease of using it with mobius brummels and toggles. It is far lighter than the wire rope and only stretches 0.19 % at 98% of breaking strain! Amazing stuff, and passes the 20/20 test no problem. You can't cleat the stuff (it'll squirm out every time) and you have to play with your tried and true knots a bit (I use brummels and larks head where ever I can) but it's easy on the hands and easy on the wallet...I rigged the mast for Harpy for about a third the cost of stainless.

[Michael Beckman]

The stuff is vertually impossible to cut with side cutters or even a fresh box knife. A hot knife is the only tool that works.
Jay
Interesting. I've never handled the stuff.

[RT MAN]

No, I doubt Nathaniell Herreshoff ever saw a piece of "manila" rope on any vessel he ever designed. The standard was hemp line back then. Stainless and dacron blends are now standard for standing and running rigging, but if you want to recreate a real Alerion replica, you'd probably want to use plow steel standing rigging and hemp running rigging with cotton sails. Just to make you really crazy!
I will most likely use more modern rigging to simplify things I will have to check out Amsteel I don't know what this is?
Rufus