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Standing Rigging Calculator

Calculate wire size and safety factors for your sailboat's standing rigging

Quick Samples
Try these common configurations to get started

Small Cruiser (30ft)

Medium Cruiser (40ft)

Racing Yacht (45ft)

Hull Dimensions
Enter your boat's principal dimensions
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About This Tool
The Standing Rigging Calculator provides an essential engineering estimate for the size of wire required for a sailboat's shrouds and stays. By inputting key parameters like mast height, sail area, and expected wind speed, it calculates the forces on the rigging and recommends a wire diameter that meets a minimum safety factor. This is a critical step in ensuring the structural integrity of the mast and rigging system.

Key Concepts:

Heeling Moment: The force generated by the wind on the sails that causes the boat to heel over.
Rigging Tension: The load that the shrouds and stays must bear to counteract the heeling moment and keep the mast standing.
Mast Compression: The downward force exerted on the mast by the tensioned rigging.
Safety Factor: The ratio of the rigging wire's breaking strength to its calculated maximum working load.
Frequently Asked Questions

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