Can You Replace Your Own Standing Rigging? Costs Explained

Swapping Your Boat’s Rigging: My Miami DIY Guide

I’ve been wrenching on sailboats in South Florida since 2010, starting with my uncle’s creaky Catalina 30 in a Fort Lauderdale marina. That sinking feeling when you spot rust on your shrouds or get an insurance letter demanding a rigging swap? It’s a sailor’s nightmare—your mast’s lifeline looking shaky. Last August, Maria at Coconut Grove Marina faced a $2,500 pro quote for her Hunter 27’s rigging; my DIY tips saved her $1,200. Here’s my no-BS guide to replacing your standing rigging yourself—costs, steps, and how to avoid screwing it up—so you can sail with confidence.

Why Rigging Failure’s a Dealbreaker

Your standing rigging—wires, shrouds, stays, and hardware—is your boat’s backbone, keeping the mast up through Miami’s squalls. Ignore it, and you’re gambling with a mast collapse. I learned this in 2012 when a client’s Beneteau 32’s corroded shroud snapped mid-race—$5,000 in damage. Insurance often demands a 10-15 year replacement cycle, and for good reason.

What Happens If You Skip It?

• Mast Failure: A broken shroud can topple your mast—$10,000+ fix.
• Insurance Denial: Old rigging voids policies. Maria’s insurer pushed her to replace in 2024.
• Performance Loss: Loose or rusty wires mess with sail trim—slow and sloppy.

Spot rust or a “meathook” strand? Act now. I caught a cracked turnbuckle on a Catalina last summer—saved a $3,000 disaster.

How Do I Check My Rig’s Health?

Before you touch a wrench, know what’s wrong. I’ve inspected 200+ rigs in Miami’s marinas, and a quick check saves headaches.

What Am I Looking For?

• Cosmetic Wear: Surface rust or faded wires—early warning.
• Serious Damage: Broken strands, deep corrosion at terminals, cracked or bent turnbuckles.

How Do I Inspect Like a Pro?

• Glove Test: Run a gloved hand along wires for “meathooks.” Found one on a Beneteau at Key Biscayne in 2024—$1,500 fix avoided.
• Visual Scan: Check terminals for rust or cracks with a magnifying glass.
• Turnbuckle Check: Stiff or bent? Replace them. I missed this in 2011; cost $800 to redo.
• Insurance Letter: If it says “replace by 10 years,” don’t argue—swap it.

Five minutes of inspection tells you if it’s time to DIY or brace for costs.

DIY or Pro? Making the Call

Replacing rigging’s a big job, but DIY can save $1,000+. I’ve done it on 30+ boats, but it’s not for everyone. Here’s how to decide.

When Can I DIY?

• Boat Size: 27–34 feet is DIY-friendly. I swapped a Hunter 27’s rigging in 2024—$800 in parts.
• Skills: Comfortable with tools, measurements, and patience? Go for it.
• Damage: Full replacement of wires and hardware, mast up.

When Do I Need a Pro?

• Complex Rigs: Double spreaders or rod rigging—too tricky.
• Mast Down: Needs a crane, pro territory.
• No Time: DIY takes 10–20 hours. I sent a rushed client’s Beneteau to a rigger in 2023—$2,200 well spent.

What’s DIY Cost vs. Pro?

• DIY: $700–$1,400 (materials) + 10–20 hours. Maria’s Hunter 27 cost $800 vs. $2,500 pro job.
• Pro: $1,600–$3,500 (materials + $1,000–$2,000 labor).

Table from my last five Miami jobs:

Job Type	Cost Estimate	Time	Risk if Botched
DIY (27–34 ft)	$700–$1,400	10–20 hours	Wrong wires, mast fall
Pro (27–34 ft)	$1,600–$3,500	2–5 days	Overpriced, bad work
Turnbuckle Swap	$300–$600	2–4 hours	Seizing, failure
Single Wire Fix	$100–$300	1–2 hours	Imbalance, mast stress

How Much Will DIY Rigging Cost Me?

For a 27–34 foot sailboat, materials are your main expense. I’ve priced dozens of jobs—here’s the breakdown.

What’s the Material Cost?

• Wires: $700–$1,400 for pre-swaged shrouds and stays. A Catalina 30 cost me $900 in 2024.
• Turnbuckles/Pins: $300–$600 for new ones. Don’t reuse old ones—cracked one cost a client $1,000 in 2013.
• Extras: $50–$100 for cotter pins, Tef-Gel, tape.

What Drives Costs Up?

• Rig Size: Bigger boats, thicker wires—$1,400 for a 34-footer.
• Terminals: Swaged ($700) are cheaper than swageless ($1,000).
• Shipping: Long wire tubes add $50–$100.

DIY total: $1,000–$2,000. Pro adds $1,000–$2,000 labor. I saved $1,200 on a Hunter last summer.

How Do I DIY Rigging Step-by-Step?

Here’s my playbook from 30+ swaps in Miami’s marinas. It’s mast-up, one-wire-at-a-time—safest for DIY.

How Do I Measure Right?

• Use Old Rigging: Lay wires flat, measure pinhole-to-pinhole. I botched this in 2011—$300 wire scrapped.
• Document Everything: Spreadsheet with wire name (e.g., “Starboard Lower Shroud”), length, diameter, terminal types.
• Triple-Check: Non-refundable orders hurt. Maria’s Hunter 27 order was perfect because we checked thrice.

Where Do I Order?

• Shops: Rigging Only, Jimmy Green Marine, or local Miami riggers. Got a $900 quote for a Catalina in 2024.
• Send Specs: Email your spreadsheet; confirm order matches.

How Do I Swap Wires?

• Support Mast: Tension a halyard opposite the wire you’re removing. Skipped this in 2012—mast wobbled, heart stopped.
• One at a Time: Remove old wire/turnbuckle, install new with Tef-Gel on threads.
• Secure: New cotter pins, taped to avoid sail tears.
• Tune: Adjust turnbuckles for mast alignment—check with a plumb bob.

Took me 12 hours on a Beneteau at Stiltsville in 2024—saved $1,500.

What Mistakes Will Burn Me?

Small slips can tank your project. I’ve seen it all in Miami’s boatyards—here’s how to stay clean.

How Do I Avoid Screw-Ups?

• Keep Old Rigging: Your backup template. Tossed mine in 2011—$300 mistake.
• Lube Threads: Tef-Gel stops seizing. Skipped it once; turnbuckle froze, $200 fix.
• New Pins: Old cotter pins snap. $5 for new ones—cheap insurance.
• Measure Right: Wrong length = scrap. Double-checked a Catalina’s wires in 2024—spot-on.
• Support Mast: Halyard tension is non-negotiable. A friend’s mast nearly fell in 2013—$4,000 lesson.

FAQ: Your Rigging Replacement Questions Answered

When Should I Replace My Rigging?

Every 10–15 years or if you see rust, meathooks, or cracked turnbuckles. Maria’s Hunter hit 12 years in 2024—insurance pushed replacement.

Can I DIY Rigging Replacement?

Yes, for 27–34 footers with mast up. Did a Catalina for $900 in 2024—saved $1,200. Complex rigs? Call a pro.

How Much Does DIY Cost?

$700–$1,400 for wires, $300–$600 for turnbuckles. Total: $1,000–$2,000. Pro adds $1,000–$2,000 labor.

What’s the Biggest DIY Mistake?

Bad measurements. Scrapped a $300 wire in 2011. Measure pinhole-to-pinhole, use old rigging.

Why Not Reuse Turnbuckles?

Old ones crack under stress. A Beneteau’s failed in 2013—$1,000 redo. Spend $300 for new ones.

How Do I Support the Mast?

Tension a halyard opposite the wire. Skipped this in 2012—mast wobbled, scary. Saved a Hunter in 2024 with this trick.

Where Do I Get Rigging?

Rigging Only or Jimmy Green Marine. Local Miami shops quoted $900 for a Catalina in 2024—check specs.

How Long Does DIY Take?

10–20 hours. Swapped a Beneteau’s rigging in 12 hours in 2024—tuned by sunset.

Why Trust My Rigging Advice?

I’ve flubbed it—like a $300 scrapped wire in 2011 from bad measurements. Now, I follow ABYC standards, triple-check specs, and keep old rigging handy. My tips come from 30+ swaps across Miami’s marinas, like Maria’s Hunter ($1,200 saved) and a Beneteau’s near-miss ($4,000 avoided). Check ABYC’s 2024 rigging guidelines or West Marine’s manuals for more.

Get Your Rig Shipshape

Rigging replacement’s daunting, but DIY’s doable with care. I learned this after a $1,000 mistake in 2012—never again. Inspect your wires this weekend, glove-test for meathooks, and measure pinhole-to-pinhole. Order from Rigging Only for $700–$1,400 and swap one wire at a time. Questions? Email me at [email protected]—I’m at Coconut Grove most weekends, coffee and tape measure ready.

Author Bio
I’m Serg, a Miami-based marine tech with 15 years of experience and ABYC certification since 2010. I’ve repaired 300+ boats, including 30+ rigging swaps, across South Florida’s marinas, saving sailors thousands with smart DIYs.