Boat Rigging Tools

Rigging is the system of wire or ropes and hardware used to control a sail boat. This system is comparable to the tendons that connect bones to muscles in our body, in that they connect the boat to the sails and masts that catch the wind. Much of the art of sailing has to do with controlling and tuning the rigging to maximize wind capture, a task that requires special rigging tools.

  1. Swaging Tool

    • Swaging is the action of combining two sections of wire or rope. The end sections are brought together by crimping a sleeve over the end pieces with the plier-like swaging tool. You can also use the swaging tool as a wire or rope cutter, once the tension is released from the rigging.

    Stand Up Toggle

    • A stand up toggle is used to guide ropes or wires around corners or horizontal changes in angle without losing the tension or mobility of the rope. Stand up toggles are bolted to the deck, and can withstand thousands of pounds of load depending on the model. They either lay flat or "stand up" as the rope moves.

    Trigger Cleat

    • If you've ever tried to control the release of an outgoing line by hand, you know what it's like to get a rope burn. Releasing a highly loaded line with control is made easy with a trigger cleat. In addition, as the trigger is activated, it will release the rope and simultaneously serve as a snubbing surface to slow the release of a sheet (aka, sail).

    Digital Rig Tension Gauge

    • In modern sail boats, the hulls and rigging are much more rigid. In fact, most new rigging is designed to stretch very little, making it hard for a sailor to gauge the tuning of his rigging by hand or eye. A rig tension gauge helps users understand how the rigging is performing and where adjustments can be made to improve sail performance. This new device replaces spring-loaded tension gauges as a more accurate and easy to use system. Simply place the device's tension lever against the rope, rod or wire where the tension will be transmitted to a load cell sensor and a readout is displayed.