Independent guide: This page offers general guidance for liveaboard owners. Your rigger can tailor it to your boat and cruising ground.

Quick answer

A liveaboard rig works every day even when the boat is not sailing: the headsail sits furled in the sun, halyards slap at anchor, and fittings sit in warm salt air. Prioritise UV protection, chafe control, a documented rig age, and upgrades that make short-handed sailing safer. Plan major work, such as a mast-out re-rig, around where you can live during the job.

Liveaboard priorities

  • UV management — sail covers, UV strips and halyard covers; see running rigging.
  • Anchor-motion wear — tie halyards off the mast, fit chafe gear on snubbers and bridles.
  • Furler care — rinse, check the swivel, keep the furling line in good order; see furler service.
  • Corrosion — especially in Queensland and northern waters; see stainless corrosion.
  • Cyclone planning — see cyclone preparation.

Upgrades for short-handed living aboard

  • electric winch for the main halyard and primary
  • lines led aft with good clutches
  • lazy-jacks and a stack pack
  • self-tacking jib or a smaller working headsail
  • Dyneema soft shackles and lashings
  • mast steps for easier inspections aloft

See rig modifications and deck hardware.

Planning big jobs

A mast-out service takes the boat out of commission for days to weeks. Combine it with haul-out and antifouling, and confirm live-aboard rules at the yard or marina before booking. See mast-out rig service.

Frequently asked questions

Can I stay aboard while the mast is out?

Often yes if the boat stays afloat at a marina, but it depends on the marina and the yard. If the boat is on the hardstand, many yards restrict or prohibit living aboard, so plan accommodation for the duration of any hardstand work.

What wears fastest on a liveaboard rig?

UV-exposed synthetics — furled headsail UV strips, halyards, sheets, lazy-bag and sail covers — and anything that moves constantly at anchor, such as halyards slapping and furler lines. Stainless terminals in warm tropical water are also prone to crevice corrosion.