The Complete Rigger's Apprentice: Tools and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging

by Brion Toss

Revised and updated—the only book you need on sailboat rigging and marlinspike arts

The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice, Second Edition offers today’s marine professionals a complete, up-to-date resource on today’s rigging best practices and traditions. This expanded edition features new material on multihull rig design, how to make and use soft-shackles, and the latest information on Sta-Lok (mechanical) terminals. In addition to sharing traditional rigging methods, new techniques are taught here, for the first time, including how to work with today’s high-modulus fibers for both running and standing rigging.

Continuing its tradition, this book helps you gain satisfaction and hard-cash savings from stepping your own masts, inspecting and maintaining your own rigs, and turning your own tail splices and wire eye splices. Easy-to-understand explanations demonstrate how to make hundreds of pieces of handmade gear, which saves you hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars.

Genres: Nautical, Nonfiction, Reference

433 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1997

Reviews

[Dan Heil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A metric shit-ton of knots and rigging techniques. Unfortunately, most of the illustrations leave a lot to be desired, but that fact actually makes you delve into the knot and learn to tie it yourself--with a bit of a guide--and so, in the end, you actually learn more than if a brilliant illustration showed you the way just once, and you could never repeat it. Having said that, make your fucking illustrations more reader-friendly, Brion. Dick.

[Bill Blevins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book and I'm glad I own it but I was looking for more of a step by step, how-to book for splicing and working with sailboat rigging. Maybe I'm spoiled by watching how-to videos on YouTube where you can watch, stop, backup and repeat over and over but with this book, you generally get one or two images and a narrative to decipher. All in all, it's worth having on the boat but frankly after reading it the first time I haven't opened it again and I'm not sure I could put my hands on it quickly if I tried. It's here somewhere.

[Fanny Chaillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t really finish but i now consider it my bible about lines and rigging

[Jim Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book to have for splicing and rigging-related topics. Toss's splicing video is top notch. See also Barbara Merry's book, "The Splicing Handbook."

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great basic reference for aspiring riggers; does a good job of explaining the whys. Illustrations are excellent as well; great for learning knots.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's probably as close as you can get in book form to an actual apprenticeship.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you wanted to know about rigging and more.