Independent guide: Yacht Rigger Australia is an educational website. It does not sell rigging services. These pages explain what each job normally involves so you can compare quotes on a like-for-like basis and ask better questions. When you are ready to talk to someone, the yacht riggers directory lists published Australian providers.
How rigging work is usually grouped
Riggers rarely price "rigging" as a single item. Quotes are built from a handful of recognisable services, and understanding which ones apply to your boat is the fastest way to make sense of a quote.
| Service | What it covers | Typical trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Complete re-rig | New standing rigging, usually with mast out, plus associated fittings | Rig age, insurer requirement, offshore plans |
| Standing rigging replacement | Shrouds, stays and terminals, fully or in part | Damage, age or a failed inspection |
| Running rigging replacement | Halyards, sheets, reefing and control lines | Wear, stretch, chafe or an upgrade |
| Mast-out rig service | Full inspection and servicing with the mast on trestles | Re-rig, hidden damage, repaint, wiring |
| Mast stepping and unstepping | Crane lift, disconnection and reconnection of the rig | Any mast-out job, transport, antifouling access |
| Furler service and installation | Bearings, foils, drums and swivels, or a new unit | Stiff furling, halyard wrap, forestay renewal |
| Chainplate replacement | Removal, inspection, renewal and re-bedding | Leaks, rust staining, age, re-rig |
| Rope splicing | Eye splices, soft shackles, tapered halyards | New lines, Dyneema upgrades |
| Swaging | Pressing terminals onto stainless wire | New stays, lifelines, repairs |
| Lifeline replacement | Guardwires, terminals, lashings and gates | Corrosion, safety regulations, re-rig |
| Deck hardware installation | Winches, clutches, blocks, tracks and padeyes | Upgrades, leaks, new layout |
| Mast repair | Corrosion, cracked welds, sheaves, spreader roots, section damage | Inspection finding, incident |
| Rig modifications | Bowsprits, inner forestays, self-tacking jibs, synthetic conversions | Changing the sailing programme |
| Insurance rigging repairs | Assessment and rectification after a claimable event | Dismasting, collision, storm damage |
| Mast painting | Stripping, corrosion treatment and refinishing | Paint failure, corrosion under fittings |
Services depend on the boat, not just the part
The same service can look very different on different boats. Re-rigging a 26-foot trailer sailer with a deck-stepped mast is a day's work in a marina car park. Re-rigging a 45-foot bluewater cutter with a keel-stepped mast, running backstays and in-mast furling can take weeks and involve a crane, a hardstand and several trades.
That is why this site groups advice by boat as well as by job:
- By boat type: catamarans, trimarans, trailer sailers, cruising yachts, bluewater yachts, racing yachts, classic yachts, charter yachts and liveaboards. Start at rigging by boat type.
- By brand: production boats from the same builder often share rig suppliers, fitting styles and known weak points. See rigging by boat brand for Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria, Hanse, Lagoon, Leopard, Seawind and classic Australian designs.
- By size: costs by boat length shows how the scope and budget of a re-rig change from 25 to 60 feet.
What to ask before booking any rigging service
- What exactly is included? Ask for an itemised scope: which stays, which terminals, whether toggles, pins and turnbuckles are new or re-used.
- What is excluded? Crane hire, hardstand fees, travel, chainplates, electrical work and sails are the usual exclusions.
- What materials and terminals will be used? Wire construction, diameter, and swaged versus mechanical terminals change both price and service life.
- Will the mast come out? If not, what can and cannot be inspected with it stepped?
- Who tunes the rig afterwards? A new rig should be tuned at the dock and re-checked after the first sail, when wire settles and terminals bed in.
- What documentation will you receive? An invoice listing materials and installation date is the single most useful record for future insurance and sale.
Timing a service around the Australian season
Southern riggers are busiest in spring as boats prepare for summer racing and cruising, and before the Sydney Hobart and other offshore events. Northern riggers see demand ahead of the dry season cruising window and in the lead-up to cyclone season. Booking in the off-season generally gives more scheduling flexibility, and makes it easier to combine a mast-out service with haul-out and antifouling.
Where to go next
- Find a yacht rigger in the directory
- Rigging costs and the re-rig estimator
- Rig inspection guide and annual checklist
- How to compare rigging quotes
Frequently asked questions
What does a yacht rigger do?
A yacht rigger inspects, services, builds and replaces the mast, boom, standing rigging, running rigging and associated deck hardware on a sailing boat. Typical jobs include rig inspections, full re-rigs, mast stepping, furler servicing, rope splicing, swaging and lifeline replacement.
How often does a yacht need a rigging service?
Most owners benefit from a deck-level check every season and a professional rig inspection at least every one to two years, plus after any grounding, knockdown or heavy-weather event. Stainless standing rigging is commonly reviewed for replacement at around ten years, but condition, use and insurer requirements decide the actual timing.
Do I need to take the mast out for a rigging service?
Not always. Many inspections, running-rigging jobs and some standing-rigging replacements can be done with the mast stepped. A mast-out service gives full access to masthead fittings, tangs, spreader roots, wiring and the mast step, and is usually recommended for a complete re-rig or when hidden damage is suspected.
Which rigging services can an owner do themselves?
Owners commonly handle regular visual checks, washing, lubrication of turnbuckles and sheaves, running-rigging replacement with pre-made lines and record keeping. Structural work such as swaging, chainplate replacement, mast repairs and setting up a new standing rig is usually best left to an experienced rigger.