Standing rigging size?

[Scandsailor]

Ahoy! Haven't posted in ages but yes I'm still alive and yes my 1969 Ericson Crealock 26 is too. I've missed you all. : D

Anyway, I moved her onto the dry last year and am currently replacing her rigging. After going through all the catalogs and taking some measurements, I've discovered that her standing rigging was all 5/32" wire with 1/4" pins. Is this adequate for a 26'? If I move up, I'll have to change out the chain plates undoubtedly since they are 1/4" sized pins... sounds like a bit of work... What is the general thought on the appropriate wire size?

 

[Kenneth K]

If the boat is 57 years old and the rigging is still standing and useable, I think that answers the question about it being adequate. From the rigging terminals on the mast (tangs, t/t-ball terminals, etc), through the stays and chainplates, and all the way down to the bulkheads/hull connections, the rigging was designed as a system. If you enhance one part of the system, the remaining parts are still the weak link. And now, the natural "flexibility" that was designed into the mast has been altered.

If you want to hire a rigger and/or a naval architect to re-design the entire rig for long-term, all-weather, blue-water sailing, you can do so. But if you are only using the boat within it's original designed uses (likely, coastal cruising and occasional blue water use), I'd be cautious about making indiscriminate changes.

 

[Scandsailor]

There's a few lines that have broken strands at the swaged fittings for the turnbuckles and one very bent fitting. Definitely time to replace but if the current wire size is adequate then I'll probably keep with that. Seems like the more things get changed, the more complicated it becomes.