Gear: Rigging. Sails, & Hardware

Standing Rigging

Stainless Steel Standing Rigging

This is the the traditional rigging used on most boats. It works with roller furlers for head sails. 1 x 19 standard stainless steel is the most common style of wire used. Wire comes in at the lowest cost and life expectancy is very good with regular inspection. It will last 8 years, though there are boats reporting 20 years. However, if you sail a lot, then time isn't the factor, and SS wire may only last 15-25k nautical miles depending on use and region. SS Wire has more stretch and elasticity than synthetic, therefore it is lower performance.

Synthetic Standing Rigging

Synthetic rigging is a great alternative to SS Traditional wire, though it is also somewhat controversial. There are four primary materials used for synthetic stays: Dyneema (Dynlce Dux), Aramid, PBO cable, and the new kid on the block, carbon fiber rigging. All of these materials are significantly lighter than going with meal wire, coming in about 60-80% lighter. As for strength, the tensile breaking strengths are around 10-50% higher than SS wire if you use a comparable diameter. The newer synthetics offer very low stretch performance characteristics. As for how long they last, synthetic is comparable to SS wire, both should be replaced after about eight years or ten at the most or at about 25K nautical miles sailed, whichever comes first.

Running Rigging

Running Rigging

We will likely be replacing all running rigging as part of the refit. These lines include the mainsail halyard and sheets, jib halyard and sheets, genoa halyard and sheets (if we have one), and the parasailor halyard and sheets.

Deck Hardware

Garhauer Deck Hardware

We plan to switch to this brand for all our blocks, plates, sheaves, shackles, rollers, fittings, clutches, mounts, deck organizers, cam cleats, etc. We like the quality, price, and 10 year unconditional guarantee.

Tylaska T12 Snap-shackle

Excellent for the Tack of our spinnaker or parasailor. This Snap-shackle uses a small release line that is tied off (loosely) to a cleat, if you release the guy on that side this smaller release line will go taught, pulling the switch on the snap-shackle, releasing both the guy and sheet attached to the tack. The sail will then only be held by the halyard and the clew, allowing it to depower and be easily doused by the sock, even in a higher wind condition.

Furling Booms

Liesure Furl Offshore System In-Boom Furler

* Custom Engineered and Fabricated for your Boat
* Elegantly Tapered for Weight Savings & Aesthetics
* Easily Fitted to Existing Mast Without the Need to Unstep
* Spar grade 6005 T5 heat treated aluminum alloy extrusions
* High-strength 17-4 investment cast stainless steel goose neck fittings

Profurl MK4R In-Boom Furler

System components: The in-boom furling system includes:

* An open boom containing the furling mandrel around which the sail is rolled.
* A drum at the forward end of the boom to furl the sail.
Hinged luff extrusions at the rear of the mast which pivot in conjunction with the boom. Available on MK2R, MK3R and MK4 in-boom furling systems.
* A sheave box rigged above the luff extrusions that guides the halyard up to the masthead.
* A rigid boom vang that automatically maintains the ideal angle for perfect furling.
Note: This one may not handle the length of our boom. Once we make a final choice on a boat, we'll check the measurements on the boom.

Sails

Precision Sails Main Sail

Mainsail. Built specially for the In-boom furling system.

Precision Sails Jib
A triangular sail that is ahead of the foremast. It's tack is fixed to the bowsprit or bow. Jibs are used in heavy winds or in a wing on wing configuration with the Genoa.

Precision Sails Genoa

This type of sail is a type of large jib or stay sail which extends past the mast and so overlaps the mainsail when viewed from the side, sometimes eliminating it. The Genoa is used in lighter winds, or as a wing on wing configuration with the jib.

Istec, Wingaker, or Oxley Parasailor (or Parasail)

Can be set without use of a spinnaker pole
Pressurized wing performs like a soft batten preventing sail collapse
Aerodynamic lift from the paraglider type wing
Gust venting (slots in the sail act like as a pressure relief valve)
Reduces stress on rig
Smooth opening
Easy hoisting and lowering
Suppressed yawing and rolling
Great stability
Easy handling even for short handed crew.
It can be swung around to nearly a beam reach (see pic).

Gear: Rigging, Sails, & Deck Hardware