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Home / Forums / Mast, Rigging and Sails / Wire rigging diameter

Forums, Mast, Rigging and Sails, Wire rigging diameter

CO32BB : CO32BB

00:33 16 October 2023

Wire rigging diameter

Sandy at 23/11/2017 14:29:25
What diameter rigging wire does everyone use?

I’m replacing the standing rigging on Solan Goose, and it looks like we’ve got 6mm 1×19 wire all round. But in the rigging schedule for the Contessa 32 on the association website it specifies 5mm for the lower shrouds?

Our u bolts for the lower shrouds have noticeably pulled the deck up, though they have now been reinforced with steel plates under the deck. I had the thought that perhaps they had been over tensioned with the larger wire.

I was considering compact dyform wire, partly as an upgrade and hopefully as it would feel nicer on the hands, but not sure if it is a good idea, or if I could downsize the lower shrouds at the same time.

CO32BB : CO32BB

00:33 16 October 2023

Wire rigging diameter

Alastair D Pugh at 24/11/2017 09:09:49
Hi Sandy, long time no see

Marisca has 5mm lowers, 6mm elsewhere with replacement due again this winter. I seem to remember hearsay that Jeremy reckoned going bigger was unnecessary and just moved the weakest link to the deck.

Cheers, Alastair

CO32BB : CO32BB

00:33 16 October 2023

Wire rigging diameter

Sandy at 25/11/2017 08:14:49
Thanks Alastair.

Yep poor Solan Goose has been languishing in the marina for the past few years while our kids were wee, but it’s time for a refit ready for next summer.

Turns out our forestay and backstay are even bigger at 7mm.
I Would downsize, but don’t want to have to deal with changing the shroud fittings on the mast, so think I’ll just stick with the same for now, and be careful not to overtension. Waiting for a surveyor to do an inspection too (for the insurance) so will see what he thinks about the deck.

Plenty other jobs needing done as well!
Cheers, Sandy

CO32BB : CO32BB

00:33 16 October 2023

Wire rigging diameter

Alan Dixon at 29/11/2017 08:47:43
Hi, I have just renewed Charlotte’s standing rigging 6 mm caps fore and back stay, with 5 mm inners.
Check with a rigger I don’t think there is any difference in the tang for the inners between 5 and 6 mm. Would be policy if you don’t know the age to change the bottle screws at the same time.

CO32BB : CO32BB

00:33 16 October 2023

Wire rigging diameter

Sandy at 05/12/2017 22:01:17
Thanks for the update Alan.

All the sizing info I could find for the shroud terminals seems to indicate that the 5mm version is small than the 6mm. I have the round spoon shaped ones as opposed to T terminals. In any case decided to just stick with the 6mm lowers to save any bother, will just need to be careful to avoid over tensioning.

Was planning to change the bottle screws as well.

Cheers, Sandy

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