Sailboat Rigging

Assembling the rigging of our boats has been made as basic and efficient as possible. Below you can find a video tutorial of how to rig our sloop-style sailboats. These instructions pertain to all of our sloop-rigged boat models, including the 17’ Jersey Skiff, 15’ Lobster Boat, 14’ Whitehall, and 12’ Point Defiance, as well as the 10’ Navigator and 9.5’ Captain’s Gig when equipped with their High Performance Option that adds the jib and bowsprit.

Our cat-rigged boats, including the standard 10’ Navigator, 9.5’ Captain’s Gig, and 8’ Nisqually sailboats, also follow these same instructions, but since they have only a mainsail you simply skip the steps pertaining to the jib.

For our balanced lug-rigged skiffs (16’ Melonseed, 17’ Salish Voyager, and 12’ Scamp), see rigging instructions HERE.

Step-by-Step Rigging Instructions

Step-by-step written instructions are provided below. The steps follow the same sequence as the video above, with time markers included so you can easily reference each section.

1) Assemble the mast (video time 0:40)

Slide the bottom section of the mast into the top section. Make sure the joint is clean!

2) Attach the lines (1:25)

Attach lines and the wind vane to mast. The shrouds hook in one on each side, the jib halyard (if applicable) in the front.

3) Step the mast (2:45)

Stand the mast up and slide it into the mast step.

4) Fasten the shrouds (3:10)

Thread the shroud through each cleat as follows:
  1. Down through the fairlead in the center of the cleat
  2. Up around the front leg
  3. Through the ring on the shroud
  4. Down around the back leg
  5. Pull tight — about 6–8″ of line depending on boat
  6. Wrap once around the cleat
  7. Criss-cross and finish with a cleat hitch

5) Rig the jib halyard (5:22)

Attach the clip to the bow eyestrap, and run the other end through the block at the bottom of the mast and to the silver cleat on the daggerboard trunk.

For the Jersey Skiff and Lobsterboat, instead run the other end to the black cleat on the left side of the mast and tie it off there.

6) Install the boom (6:30)

Install the boom on the sail track at the back of the mast.

7) Rig the mainsheet (6:57)

Clip the snap hook onto the traveller in back of the boat. (On older models, you may have to tie the main sheet to the steel ring threaded onto the traveller.)

8) Attach the mainsail (8:08)

  1. Attach the tack (front) of the sail to the gooseneck.
  2. Open each sail ring, wrap it around the mast, and reattach it to the sail.
  3. Place the slider at the back of the sail onto the sail track, and run the outhaul line from the back of the sail, through the fairlead at the back of the boom, forward to the cleat on the side of the boom.
  4. Clip one end of the main halyard to the top of the sail, and run the other through the fairlead of the cleat on the right side of the mast.

9) Attach the jib (if applicable) (12:58)

  1. Attach the tack (front) to the nose of the boat.
  2. Run the jib sheets, one on each side, to the blocks on the gunwale. Stay outside the shrouds (if necessary). Tie the ends of the main sheets together.
  3. Clip the jib halyard to the top of the jib, and run the other end through the turning block at the base of the mast, and to the silver cleat on the centerboard trunk.

Note: For the Jersey Skiff and Lobsterboat equipped with roller furling, the jib halyard is routed differently:

A. Through the fairlead of the cleat on the left side of the mast<
B. Raise the jib
C. Attach the hauldown block to the jib halyard above the cleat, block down
D. Run the halyard through the hauldown block
E. Tighten the jib halyard until the mast is centered in the mast step
F. Cleat off the halyard and furl the jib.

9b– For Roller Furling rigs only

Run the furling line from the drum at the front of the jib, through the fairleads on the left side of the boat, to the black cleat in the cockpit.
On smaller boats the furler cleat is on the seat near the mast.
On the Jersey Skiff and Lobsterboat, the furling line is routed under the deck right behind the furler, through fairleads behind the deck coaming, to the furler cleat on the inside deck coaming in the cockpit.

10) Raise the sails! (14:58)

11) Install the rudder (16:12)

Make sure the tiller is underneath the traveller! Be sure to slide the tiller under the mainsheet traveler line before placing the rudder pins.

12) Install the daggerboard (17:43)

Install the daggerboard, or place it conveniently for deployment once you’ve launched.