How to Clean Rusty Stainless Steel Rigging Wire

Cleaning your rigging on a regular basis will keep rust from eating through.

Keeping the stainless steel rigging wire on your boat free of rust is essential. If rust and corrosion is allowed to begin, your rigging could easily fail. Most boat owners do not realize that trying to clean rusty stainless steel rigging wire with a regular steel brush or steel wool can make the problem worse. The brush or wool will leave steel behind on the rigging that will then begin to rust and cause the problem again. Using the right tools, it is easy to keep your rigging free of rust.

Things You'll Need

• Stainless steel or copper wire brush
• Soft cloth
• Metal polish

Instructions

1. Scrub the stainless steel rigging wire with a stainless steel or copper wire brush to remove a majority of the rust.

2. Wipe the loose rust from the rigging wire with a clean, dry cloth.

3. Apply a small amount of metal polish to a clean cloth and polish the wire until no rust can be seen.

Tips & Warnings

• Wipe down your rigging after every time you take your boat out and polish the rigging once a month. This will prevent rust from building up and make the rigging quicker to clean.

• Replace stainless steel rigging wire if the rust will not come off with a cloth. This rigging could fail under the stress of sailing and cause injury, an accident or leave you stranded.

References

• BoatUS.com: Rigging Care & Maintenance
• The Coastal Passage: Rig Maintence Made Simple

Resources

• Discover Boating: Safe Boating Guide - Boat Maintenance Tips & Safety Rules