Rig Survey

A rig survey examines the mast, shrouds, forestay, terminals and sail handling gear for hairline cracking, corrosion and fatigue. Terminals are dye-penetrant tested.

A rig is as strong as its weakest link

A sailing yacht’s mast stands on a web of tension — shrouds, stays, terminals and chainplates. When a single link lets go, the result is a dismasting, and the failure almost always starts from a hairline crack no eye can see. The rig survey verifies that web link by link.

The inspection line

Mast and boom are checked for bend, corrosion (galvanic attack at aluminium-to-stainless contacts especially), cracking and deformation, along with the step and deck collar. Shrouds and stays are traced by hand and lens for broken strands; terminals — the rig’s most critical and most deceptive failure zone — are examined for hairline cracks by dye penetrant testing. Chainplates are inspected at the deck and below it: weep staining, gelcoat crazing or laminate voids around a chainplate mean rig loads are no longer feeding cleanly into the hull. Running rigging, tracks, cars, clutches and winches are function-tested, and the sails assessed for stitching, batten pockets, rings and cloth fatigue.

Why dye penetrant?

A stainless terminal does not fail all at once: a hairline crack starts, grows under load, and then lets go. That crack is invisible to the eye — the surface stays bright and sound.

Dye penetrant draws coloured fluid out of the crack and makes the line visible. A rig is only as strong as its weakest link, so a crack in a single terminal costs the mast.

Terminals are therefore cleaned and tested one by one; “looked over, appears sound” is not an adequate standard for a rig.

The report

Every component photographed and condition-listed; replacement items ranked by urgency, with a reasoned view of the rig’s remaining life for insurance renewal or a purchase decision.

Duration and fee

This inspection is a chapter within a survey: it is carried out within a pre-purchase survey (on sailing yachts) and is not billed separately. We do not sell it as a standalone item, because coming to the boat once to look at this heading alone serves neither you nor us.

If you do need this heading on its own — in a dispute, or for a second opinion — the door is not closed. Call us and we will talk about the boat.

Fees vary with the length of the boat, where she lies and the season. For a firm price call us — tell us about the boat and we will give you the number on the phone.

Estimate your survey fee