Does the mast need to come down?

Not always. Many findings can be captured with mast lift, bosun’s chair and endoscope. For older rigs or specific suspicion, de-rigging with terminal removal is advisable.

How long does it take?

A 35–50 ft yacht with mast up typically takes 3–5 hours. With mast down and partial disassembly, accordingly longer.

Do I get concrete replacement suggestions?

Yes. Material recommendations and priorities are included so you can plan with yard, rigger or yourself.

Is the rig check accepted by insurers?

A documented rig check is recognised by common yacht insurers as evidence of regular maintenance and is often relevant from a defined rig age.

Surveys

Rig Check for Sailing Yachts

A rig check is a systematic visual and functional inspection of the complete rig structure: mast, spreaders, standing and running rigging, terminals, shrouds, winches and deck hardware — identifying safety-critical weaknesses before they become a problem at sea.

What we inspect

Standing rigging (shrouds, stays, runners), running rigging (halyards, sheets, lines), terminals, turnbuckles, mast step, spreaders, bolts and split pins. On deck: fittings, deck penetrations, tracks, cars, winches and clutches — checked for wear, corrosion and fastening.

For older rigs or specific concerns we add endoscopy, dye-penetrant inspection of welds, targeted removal of individual terminals or full rig de-rigging for in-depth inspection.

When to do a rig check

Typical reasons:

Before the season, especially after long lay-up
Before a passage, delivery or ocean crossing
As part of a pre-purchase survey
Insurance requirement after defined rig age (often 10–15 years)
After a Chinese gybe, mast lowering or unusual load event

Standing & running rigging

For standing rigging we assess wire quality, broken strands at terminals, corrosion at endings, cracks at turnbuckles, dimensional and play checks on bolts, and correct rig trim. Running rigging: wear, UV damage and function on stoppers, deflections and clutches.

On request you receive a prioritised recommendation list ("Replace now / during season / long term") incl. material suggestions.

Report and next steps

You receive a photo-documented report with findings, evaluation and prioritised recommendations. For safety-critical findings we inform you directly on board.

Related services

Kaufgutachten Versicherungsgutachten

Frequently asked questions

Does the mast need to come down?: Not always. Many findings can be captured with mast lift, bosun’s chair and endoscope. For older rigs or specific suspicion, de-rigging with terminal removal is advisable.
How long does it take?: A 35–50 ft yacht with mast up typically takes 3–5 hours. With mast down and partial disassembly, accordingly longer.
Do I get concrete replacement suggestions?: Yes. Material recommendations and priorities are included so you can plan with yard, rigger or yourself.
Is the rig check accepted by insurers?: A documented rig check is recognised by common yacht insurers as evidence of regular maintenance and is often relevant from a defined rig age.

Request a rig check

Tell us yacht type, rig age and mooring — we coordinate directly with your yard or marina.

Request +49 441 9718612