Indicative figures only: All dollar figures are AUD planning bands from this site's open cost model, which has not been validated against current Australian quotes. See the editorial policy. Always get itemised quotes.
Quick answer
The biggest drivers of rigging cost are boat length, rig complexity (number of stays, spreaders and adjustable systems), material, access (mast in or out, crane, hardstand) and location. Standing rigging is usually the largest single line; crane, yard, furler, chainplates and running rigging can together add as much again. Use the estimator below to build a band for your scope, then compare itemised quotes.
Indicative bands by length (1x19 stainless, standing rigging only)
| Length | Indicative band (AUD) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 25 ft | $4,900 – $8,000 | 25-foot re-rig |
| 30 ft | $6,800 – $11,100 | 30-foot re-rig |
| 35 ft | $9,000 – $14,600 | 35-foot re-rig |
| 40 ft | $11,500 – $18,600 | 40-foot re-rig |
| 45 ft | $14,200 – $23,000 | 45-foot re-rig |
| 50 ft | $17,100 – $27,800 | 50-foot re-rig |
| 60 ft | $23,800 – $38,600 | 60-foot re-rig |
| Catamarans | Usually higher than a monohull of the same length | Catamaran re-rig |
Compact strand, synthetic and rod rigging sit progressively higher; the estimator applies the model's material factors.
What else appears on a quote
- mast unstep, crane and restep — see mast stepping
- yard or hardstand days
- furler strip and service — see furler service
- chainplate inspection or replacement — see chainplate replacement
- running rigging — see running rigging replacement
- tuning and sea trial
- travel for regional work — see rigging around Australia
Budget for scope, not just materials
A cheap quote that re-uses old toggles and turnbuckles, excludes the crane and skips the forestay inside the furler is not comparable with one that renews everything. See how to compare rigging quotes.
Documentation has resale value
The invoice from a re-rig is a record insurers and buyers ask for. See rigging records.
Build your estimate
Choose length, material and the add-ons that apply. The result is a planning band with the quote line items to confirm with your rigger.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to re-rig a yacht in Australia?
It depends mostly on length, rig complexity and material. On this site's indicative model, 1x19 stainless standing rigging runs from roughly $4,900 to $8,000 for a 25-foot boat up to roughly $23,800 to $38,600 for a 60-footer, before crane, yard, furler, chainplate and running-rigging work. These are planning bands, not quotes.
Why do two rigging quotes differ so much?
Usually because the scope differs: one may include new turnbuckles, toggles, crane hire, furler service and tuning while another covers wire and terminals only. Ask each rigger to itemise the quote so you can compare line by line.
Scope builder
Re-rig cost estimator
An indicative planning band only. Real quotes depend on the yacht, the yard, access, component availability and the condition found once work starts.
38 ft (11.6 m)
Standing rigging material
Additional scope
Indicative band
$10,500–$17,000
Australian dollars, indicative planning band only — not a quote. How these figures are produced.
Ask every quote to itemise
- Standing rigging: wire, terminals, turnbuckles, toggles and pins
- GST, and whether the quoted figure includes it
Model: base 15 × LOA^1.8 × material factor, plus selected scope. Basis inherited from the original design package, source unverified · last validated never
Common questions
- How long does a re-rig take?
A straightforward Australian re-rig typically occupies one to three weeks of elapsed time, of which only a few days are hands-on work. Elapsed time is driven by crane availability, hardstand bookings, wire and terminal lead times, and whatever is found once the mast is down — not by the rigger’s labour hours.
- How much does it cost to re-rig a yacht in Australia?
Australian re-rig costs scale steeply with yacht length, not linearly. As an indicative planning band, a 30-foot yacht in 1x19 stainless commonly falls in the low five figures, a 40-footer materially higher, and a 50-footer higher again. Material choice, mast removal, crane hire, yard time and chainplate work move the figure more than labour rates do.
- How do I budget for a re-rig?
Budget a re-rig by starting from an indicative band for the yacht’s length and material, then adding each scope item separately — crane, hardstand, furler service, chainplates, running rigging, tuning and travel — and holding a contingency of roughly 15 to 25 per cent for what is found once the mast is down.
- How do I compare rigging quotes that look nothing alike?
Compare rigging quotes by rewriting all of them onto one line-item list before looking at any total. Two quotes differing by thousands usually differ in scope, not price: mast removal, crane hire, hardstand, turnbuckles, the forestay, furler service, chainplates, tuning, travel and GST are the items most often included in one and absent from another.
- How do I choose a yacht rigger?
Choose a yacht rigger on demonstrated experience with your rig type, willingness to quote in itemised writing, references from owners of similar yachts, appropriate insurance, and a clear position on what happens if extra work is found. Rig type experience matters more than proximity — a rigger who works on your configuration weekly is worth travelling for.