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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5385 Posts
Initially Posted - 08/24/2025 :  08:32:23  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hello all
As it happens each year our friends from Catalina Direct are offering their good quality sails at a discount price for springtime delivery. I’m in no way compensated by CD, but just received an email.
If you expect to be in the market soon for new sail, and while you can probably purchase equivalent quality goods if you search, the nice thing about this is you pay a 15% discount price (if you move fast) and great sails show up for next season.
I can’t remember how many conversations were had here on this forum during the springtime preps season where someone invariably asks where to get good sails that actually fit their boat at a fair price.
This is it, I reckon.

Meanwhile, I’m looking for new standing rigging. The last time I replaced the rigging was maybe 2014 (?) when Scott kindly provided his help. I really appreciated it. Seems like it’s time to do it again.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5385 Posts
Response Posted - 08/24/2025 :  08:41:06  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The sale dates are:
Order through September 9th for shipment by end of March and get a 15% Discount.
Order through September 16th for shipment by the middle of April and get a 10% Discount.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1783 Posts
Response Posted - 08/27/2025 :  07:25:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Bruce,

My standing rigging is from 2007 and is still fine. I have it checked each spring by a rigger who advises if well maintained you should get 15-20 years. I do take my mast off at winter storage time, which also may add to life as when on the hard and blowing the standing rigging gets more stress than when in the water. If you do need to replace it Catalina Direct has standing rigging kits (all shrouds) or you can purchase individually.
Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5385 Posts
Response Posted - 08/27/2025 :  15:52:25  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Peter, looking at the rigging, it looks fine without any visible kinks or “meathooks”.
The parts that worry me are the lower swage ends where rainwater can infiltrate and deprive oxygen to the stainless steel wire and crimped-on terminals.

This is where the stainless steel can suffer crevice corrosion and weaken until it fails. I can’t say definitively whether it’s degraded, or to what extent it may have deteriorated. That’s the rub … So you don’t know when a cable will fail.

If, however, your rigging is around 18 years old, I’d think very seriously about replacing it. It’s cheap insurance.

In the past few years, I’ve also stored the boat with the mast down, so I might be able to get a few more years out of it.

And you have to consider, if you lose a lower shroud, maybe it’s not such a big deal since the upper shrouds should hold it.

But, if you lose a forestay or backstay, then it’s “GAME OVER” for your mast, and potentially your boat. At the least it might be wise to replace both your forestay and backstay.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
Edited by - Voyager on 08/27/2025 15:54:55
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OLarryR
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3468 Posts
Response Posted - 08/27/2025 :  21:31:33  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I have to check when I replaced my standing rigging. It was at least 10 years ago. I have been inspecting the lower fittings and they seem okay but of course it is hard to determine what is going on inside those fittings. My thoughts are as follows:
In regards to maintenance mishaps, I do not recall ever coming across a sailboat or an owner knowing about a sailboat that had a detached/broken stay, though, I am sure it happens. Just that in comparison to other mishaps such as boat fires, sinkings and torn sails, my thought is that broken/detached stays are rare in comparison and I suspect there are many sailboat owners that have never changed their stays. I recall eons ago, on this Forum, a Cat25 owner that had his boat being lifted by a travel arm and his boat slipped causing the forward stay to hit the travel arm. He posted a photo on this Forum of his bow - It looked like jaws! His old standing rigging held! The deck ripped up about 12” from the bow!

As far as taking the rigging down during the off season - Does that prolong rigging life? Not sure, maybe not. Number of factors. If on blocks, one could argue that rigging is subjected to wind and stress during the off season, though, if one is not careful, the taking down and subsequently raising the mast each sailing season could accidentally subject the rigging to adverse flexing, kinks, etc.

If the rigging is subjected to freshwater/air environment, I would think the rigging should get many more years life versus if in a seawater/air environment. Probably 15-20+ years versus 12-16+ years subject to periodically inspecting the stays and fittings.

This is one of those issues whereby some will conservatively replace the stays before any deterioration is present to minimize a disastrous occurrence. My stays were at least 20 years old when I had them replaced - I had no noticeable deterioration and boat was used about 10 years in seawater and 10 years in freshwater. But thought it wise to replace at that time.

This is something we each have to decide when it is appropriate to accomplish. At 10 years, 15, 20 or only if deterioration is visible?


Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5385 Posts
Response Posted - 08/28/2025 :  06:34:51  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Larry, I agree, it’s pretty rare to hear about or see among owners of older sailboats. And there are lots of them around. As you say, it’s something to be aware of like through-hulls, fuel lines, and electrical problems.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.