proper rigging diameter for a DE 38 cuttert Sails and Rigging- Standing and Running Forums

I don't know the figures for the 38, but the standard rigging for the DE32 is perfectly adequate.  When you go to larger size wire, you have to pre-tension it considerably hire to ensure that it doesn't stretch and the mast doesn't bend when under load.  That extra tension can end up causing structural problems over the long run.  With Bodhran, I've used the stock sized rigging  and tensioned the lower shrouds to 12% breaking strength and all the rest of the rig to 15% percent breaking strength.  I've had to add additional structural reinforcements for all of the shrouds due to leaks in the caprail around the chainplates.  I've also got lots of gel coat crazing and some caprail cracks around the backstay chainplate.  The bowsprit seems to be holding fine, but it's a balancing act playing the headstay, inner forestay,  bobstay and whisker stays against each other.

It might make you feel better going with stouter rigging, but in my opinion the original rigging is properly sized.  Upsizing the rigging is going to lead to structural problems in the long run.

As for the Hi-mod fittings, I put mine on the boat in 2005 and they're still in great shape.  I re-did the bobstay back in 2006 and it was a breeze re-using the hi-mod fitting.

Jason

DE32 Bodhran

I don't think you have to snug up your rigging based on the breaking strength of the cables. I tension my rigging based on deflection, mast bend and tension of leeward shrouds on the wind.

All of the sails are the same size, so the forces that everything will see will be the same, in the same conditions. If you upgrade your rigging to cable that has a higher working load, you don't have up the rig tension to the same percent value, as long as the cable has less stretch. Higher diameter cable will have less stretch than lower diameter cable. So maybe instead of tightening to 15%, one might only have to tension to 10% and see the a very similar amount of residual stretch over the remaining 10-60% of working load that the rig is likely to see in anything short of a knockdown.

I'm sure the stock rigging is fine regardless. Most rig failures happen at the chainplates and in the connections at the deck anyway. Either way, I'm committed. 🙂 I think I originally chose to upgrade my rigging size based on what I saw on other boats of similar size. Westsails, Vagabonds, Island Packets all have rigging closer to the size I've upgraded to. 

Keeping an eye on the boat structure around the rig connections is good advice in any case.

Scott, I'll take a look at the Hi-Mod options for the whiskers. I had not looked there yet. Speaking of lifelines, I replaced my terrible, plastic coated and rusted out lifelines before I even splashed the boat for the first time. I have 3/8" 1x19 for lifelines. It's the biggest rigging on the boat after the bobstay! I chose the largest diameter that would fit through the stanchions. This was more an ergonomic rather than a breaking strength decision. I hate little skinny wires used for lifelines on some boats. Those things can give you a nasty gash if you fall against it.