Elise's rig checked (in preparation for Single Handed Transpac)

Looks great - couple of wires replaced. Will also replace the forestay. Some minor fixes here and there and weather protection for spreader as plastic had worn out at the end of the spreaders to make it easier on the sails and off we got.

 

There's really only one way to know for sure if there is any corrosion or structural issue in a rig or cables and that is to take the rig down, so that's what we did.

 

Oh my oh my...what a beauty. Even when she isn't wearing anything.

 

We had scheduled the work with Jason (Argo Yacht Rigging) a long time ago to make sure there would be time. We also wanted to pick a time that wasn't busy with races. This is a key big job and we were trying to find the best balance between 'not too long before the race so we don't damage the rig' and 'not too close to the race' so we have time to find defect if we change anything. You typically don't want to go to sea with any major part that's less than two months old. The middle of the ocean isn't the best place to find out about manufacturing or installation defect. Ideally you test the heck out of everything well before you show up on the start line.

 

Elise has worked with Jason for the longest time - he is her favorite rigger. First he is an Express 27 sailor himself and has done a Pac Cup on one of Elise's cousins so he is intimately familiar with the boat. Like most riggers, he has an active racing and delivery schedules and constantly experiments with his own settings.

 

Second, he has pulled some last minute 'whatever' to get Elise to start lines. He worked overtime to help build Elise's dodger for Pac Cup, he moved his schedule around after a hoist accident would have prevented Elise to do a Long Pac - within less than 24 hrs and with an emergency call, she was on the start line. He came by one morning to help check something on the rig to make sure Elise was sailable safely because we knocked something accidentely on the mast. Was a key class counter. We called him, he hopped on a car and came by to help us. I once broke a pole for a two day event. 

I was on the phone with Jason before we hit the dock ordering another pole and although he doesn't work weekend and even though I have a spare pole that is less optimal because it is old and doesn't have the right jaw, the following morning, there was another pole on the deck of the boat.

He is super handy, can help with a lot of other odd jobs and because he is a small shop is super flexible. He is extremely reliable and dependable. You know exactly if he can take on a job or not, when and when to expect anything to be delivered. If anything comes up, he calls you immediately. If you need to make any decision, he calls you immediately. There never is any surprise. I trust him 100%.

He understands budget constraints and tries to give you the best solution given these constraints (any small boat owner tends to be more cash sensitive than bigger boat owners, although that's not always true!) - his proposals were always very reasonable price-wise, and he always comes within quote barring largely unexpected issues which I actually hasn't really ever happened.

And we have always been satisfied with his work, except for two projects but that's tough to tell until you start using the lines: the jib sheets are a little thick - mostly my fault as I specifically asked him to replace the old ones...they match their diameter but they're probably oversized...

So if you are looking for a rigger, give him a call :)

Tomorrow: masthead tricolor navigation lights and strobe and anenometer for the instruments and autopilot go back up and boat gets tuned up ready for the next race - then back on the trailer!