Ive done 3 boats at West Marine for around $50-$75 for 2 shrouds and a forestay. All 3 boats were smaller beach cats, GCat 5.0, NACRA 5.0 and 5.2. I used 1x19 wire, double thimbles, and thier bench swager. All 3 boats are still sailing with this rigging, the oldest being 6 years old(I wouldnt recommend waiting that long but these guys dont sail as much as some of us. I found it quite easy to put the thimble in the swage and cinch it up tighly by myself. The most difficult part was getting the "pull to pull" length right, especially by yourself. The West Marine guys said they couldnt help for liability purposes. The most important thing is to double thimble, IMHO.

If I were sailing with a carbon mast, or a new boat, I would probably go with a professional rigger.

Last edited by dave mosley; 02/10/08 06:57 PM.
The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Matthew 8:27