Today Curt and Steve from Keys Rigging came down from Marathon to discuss the furling issues and install a halyard restrainer to stop the jib halyard from wrapping around the headstay. As soon as Curt took a look at the 29-year old rigging on "Tango" the program changed to a rig inspection, then repair, then furling issues.
I thoroughly agreed that before climbing the mast an inspection was in order. They rigged a three-part over-sized climbing rig with a bosun's chair and started at deck level. Mostly unremarkable and easily repairable stuff. Then Curt got to the lower spreaders and started calling out cracked eyes and broken wire strands. At the upper spreaders, more failures and he announced that he wasn't going to the masthead and that repairs would require the mast to come down.
I'm not allowed to do that in the Boca Chica Marina and they recommended bringing the boat to Marathon for the work. Just don't sail it to Marathon, and wait for a calm day! Before they left they braced the mast with the main and jib halyards. Measurement were taken, pages from the owner's manual were photographed on Curt's iPhone, and an estimate will appear via email.
As expected, this is their busy season. I probably won't get the work done until mid-May or June.
This really cuts into the sailing plans for this spring!
The rough estimate is that this repair-by-replacement will cost around $10K by the time it is done. When finished the standing rigging, internal wiring, masthead lights and antenna will all be new. Additionally, the furler will be pitched in favor of a new Harken ESP and I'll install a wind speed and direction system.
The rest of March and April will be spent converting the rust on the engine and mounts to clean painted metal and installing new fuel filters and lift pumps.
And Micky and I are going to go on "Vacation from Retirement"! We're going to find some neat place to go and just enjoy ourselves.
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