Short answer

Establish rigging age from invoices, the previous owner, the yard or rigger who did the work, survey reports, and any date stamps on terminals or turnbuckles. Where no evidence exists, treat the rigging as unknown age rather than assuming it matches the yacht’s build year, because unknown age is itself a replacement argument.

Rigging age is a documentary question before it is a technical one. The strongest evidence is an invoice naming the wire specification, the terminals used and the date fitted. Second best is the rigger or yard that did the work, who may still hold the job record.

Physical clues are weaker but worth collecting. Some terminals and turnbuckles carry maker marks or date stamps, mixed brands across a rig suggest piecemeal replacement, and a forestay that is visibly newer than the shrouds tells its own story.

Do not assume the rigging is as old as the yacht, and do not assume it is newer either. A 1998 yacht may be on original wire or on its third rig. Both are common and they lead to completely different decisions.

If the trail runs out, record that plainly: "age unknown, no documentation located, checked [date]". That sentence is more useful to a surveyor, insurer or buyer than an optimistic guess, and it feeds directly into how to satisfy an insurer.

Step by step

  1. Search the yacht’s paperwork

    Look for rigging invoices, yard accounts, and previous survey reports that mention the rig.

  2. Ask the previous owner

    Ask specifically what was replaced and when, and whether turnbuckles and the forestay were included.

  3. Ask local yards and riggers

    Give the yacht name, sail number and approximate years. Job records often outlive owners.

  4. Read the hardware

    Check terminals and turnbuckles for maker marks, date stamps and brand mismatches across the rig.

  5. Record the outcome honestly

    Where nothing is found, document the rig as unknown age with the date you searched.

Key facts

Best evidence
Dated invoice naming wire specification and terminals
Useful secondary
Rigger or yard job records, prior survey reports, maker date stamps
Unsafe assumption
That rigging age matches the yacht’s build year
If unknown
Record it as unknown — it is a finding, not a gap

Full background: read the guide