Rigging inspection

 

Boating the Great Lakes has one great aspect, fresh water. Down here in the salt water I found out about the fallacy of “stainless steel”… it sure ain’t stainless. The salt air and the salt spray starts a layer of rust on all steel even stainless. So, once a year, I have to go around to all of the stainless stantions, pulpits, and rigging and scrub the stainless steel  back to, well, stainless. It’s a rotten job but it also gives me the chance to closely inspect the rigging for issues. A year or so back, two of the rigging ends had failed inspection during this inspection 3 more rigging ends are showing signs of cracking and will have to be replaced. Here’s a picture of one of the ends to show you what the rust that is inside of the rigging end and is expanding out can do to solid steel. When we get to Marathon I will replace all of the bad ends and finish “de-rusting” our stainless.

Wire end has crack in it

Close up of the crack!

As a side note, while I was working a man and his dog happened by and stood and talked for awhile. This isn’t too unusual at the dock but we were at anchor! (Sorry for the picture quality.)

Nothing like taking your dog for a walk...row!