The Rigging Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Sailboat Rigging

It has been a while since I have posted and I have a very good reason: I have been writing a book on rigging that will teach you how to work on your own boat, from maintenance, inspection, to fabricating a new rig!

Part I covers the function of rigging on a sailboat and a general overview of common rig designs―with a focus on single-masted sloops and cutters, and two-masted ketches, yawls, and schooners―as well as the slight nuances between them. Chapters then progress to introducing the parts of standing rigging (the parts that hold the mast up) and running rigging (the parts that hold the sails), the function of each piece, and a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of all rigging materials, including hemp, galvanized steel, stainless steel, titanium and aluminum, and Dyneema (synthetic).

Part II discusses how to evaluate, tune, repair, and replace rigging. Chapters cover in detail what happens when rigging parts fail or reach the end of their serviceable life, including from corrosion, cracks, and UV damage. Learn how to perform a rig survey and what to consider when it comes to the wear and tear that happens with time, distance, and use and abuse. The final chapters discuss the basics of replacing standing and running rigging―including set up and tuning―and the advantages of steel versus synthetic and polyester versus more modern fibers, enabling readers to make an informed decision as to what grade of equipment to use to outfit their boats.

As you can imagine, I am super excited to be bringing this book to you in a tangible form that you can carry on your boat so that you can reference it in a time of need without relying on your internet connection! Imagine anchoring in a remote desert island, only to notice that your mast is horribly bent. There is no internet in this situation and you are unsure if you can safely sail home or if you need to carry out repairs where you are. This book will be your guide and present to you the information you need in your time of need.

My book is currently available for pre-order at a bunch of different stores. To make it easier for you to pre-order your copy, you can click your favorite retailer’s link below. The expected release date will be March 3, 2026.

Barnes and Noble

Apple Books

Boulder Bookstore

Walmart

Diesel, a book store

Buy on Amazon

Penguin Bookshop

Books-A-Million

Bookshop

Prairie Lights Books

Repairing Dyneema Rigging

One of the shining features of Dyneema over steel is the fact that Dyneema can be repaired.

Chafe is the biggest problem facing synthetic rigging, and one that is easily avoided by routing the running rigging in a way that it won’t contact, and then chafe, the standing rigging. Should chafe occur and become serious, Dyneema can be easily repaired with mending splices to insert a new portion of Dyneema replacing the damaged portion.

After 6 years of sailing, our synthetic standing rigging has suffered no major chafing or damage, but our synthetic lifelines have! Everyone always worries about the stays chafing, but the workhorse lifelines are neglected to a life of chafe and abuse! Fenders are tied to them, gear is laid upon them, sheets and sails rub on them! Miles and years go buy where these poor little lines are subjected to abuse right next to the prized standing rigging that is shielded from all extraneous duty.

After all those years, while in Gibraltar, I decided it was time to carry out repairs on the two areas which had chafed. One was due to the windvane control lines tugging harshly on it, which I repaired the proper way; the other was subjected to a sharp metal bicycle pedal rubbing on it the entire way across the Atlantic!

The second repair was carried out in a more “creative” and less “professional” manner. The reason for the variation in repairs is simple: I wanted to see how well both repairs would hold up to similar abuse? Both repairs were done on the same day, so their subsequent wear would be similar. The proper repair is the control, as this is how repairs should be carried out, while the “creative” repair is the variable being measured against the control.

The correct repair is carried out using an end to end splice which mends the chafed area by replacing it with new Dyneema. This method is relatively simple to do, creating two locked splices and requiring access to at least one free end. There are four tapered tails that need to be created and buried and the whole process is rather lengthy, but yields an impeccable repair which is as strong as the original line.

The creative repair is able to be carried out in a situation where you do not have access to either end. A mending piece of Dyneema is inserted into the chafed line using two long bury splices. Additional locking stitches are needed to properly secure the splice as it is not locked on its own and could easily be pulled out if someone wanted to (or if gear snagged on it just the right way). This method only requires one splice and two tapered tails, making it quicker and easier to perform.

After crossing the Atlantic again with these repairs and carrying lots of gear on the deck which chafes on the lifelines, I can say with confidence that both repairs are holding up the same. The end to end splice does look a lot nicer while the creative repair looks a little shabby.

I personally prefer the end to end splice as I prefer locking splices over splices which require locking stitches to secure them, but if you have a situation where there simply isn’t the required free end to fix it, know that this other method will work well to repair your lifelines!

How to make Soft Shackles

Soft shackles are great, but kind of expensive if you need to buy a bunch of them. I’ll show you how to make your own for only a few dollars and exactly 20 inches of 1/4 inch SK78 Dyneema!

Dog-bone Dyneema Soft Shackle

Want to replace your steel standing rigging with synthetic standing rigging? Easy!

Simply swap out your steel stays for Dyneema stays.

Now all you have to do is swap out all of your bronze hanks that will chafe on the synthetic stay with soft hanks. These with dog bones are very secure and incredibly easy to operate!

How to Make a Dyneema Grommet

A rope ring is called a grommet and they are incredibly useful on a sailboat! Anything you need to connect or attach can be easily setup using a grommet. Once you have a few of them you will soon find uses for them and then need even more grommets for other uses you have found around the boat!

I use this very same technique to make the deadeyes that hold up our synthetic standing rigging. This grommet, made with a Möbius Brummell Splice is incredibly strong and will stand up to whatever challenges you can throw at it!