In-Boom Reefing

by John March 18, 2006

Question: Would you, if you had the chance to refit free of cost considerations, stay with your slab-reefing system, or would you yourself seriously consider in-boom reefing? If so, why?

Slab Reefing And Lazy Jacks

by John April 18, 2006

Question: Is slab-reefing (jiffy reefing) and lazy-jacks genuinely viable for a 667sqft sail, given we will be only two sailing our boat most of the time?

Frederiksen (Ronstan) Mainsail Car System

by John May 18, 2006

Morgan’s Cloud’s mainsail is big at 600sqft and has full length battens. The Frederiksen (now Ronstan) system is reliable and smooth running. It makes the main substantially easier to hoist and even more importantly makes it easy to get it down in a hurry. However, the biggest payoff is that we can easily reef and [...]

Harken Fittings

by John May 18, 2006

As it becomes necessary to replace blocks and other deck gear, we are replacing them with Harken equipment whenever possible. We have never had a failure to date, and they stand behind their products: When the bearings on our 16-year-old Harken jib roller furler system needed replacing, Harken found the parts and did it for [...]

Laminated Spectra Sailcloth

by John May 18, 2006

Our laminated spectra sails have retained their shape over eight years and many miles of use; much longer than the Dacron sails we had in the past. The fabric is from Dimension Polyant and Hallett Canvas and Sails in Falmouth, Maine made the sails. Incidentally, the first set of laminated Spectra sails delaminated very quickly [...]

Maloney Marine Rigging

by John May 18, 2006

It’s not often that we run into someone that is as obsessive about making sure the details are right when working on Morgan’s Cloud as we are. Jay Maloney is one of very few people that we trust to do the job right without us having to look over his shoulder. We have called on [...]

Navtec Hydraulics

by John May 18, 2006

Morgan’s Cloud was fitted with an hydraulic vang and with hydraulic backstays when we bought her. Initially we were skeptical, feeling that such complexity had no place on a cruising boat, especially one that sails to remote places.

Spartite Mast Chocks

by Phyllis May 18, 2006

Spartite is a pre-measured two part polymer that is poured directly into the cavity between the mast and the partners while the mast is in the boat. Spartite makes a one-piece perfectly fitting mast chock that replaces archaic wedges.

Waterboot Mast Boots

by Phyllis May 18, 2006

Water running down the mast, through the partners and inside the boat, whether it’s fresh or salt, is not a good thing. That’s where Waterboot comes in. They will make a custom rubber mast boot with velcro closure that will, with the application of a bit of silicone, effectively stop water from entering at the [...]

GMT Carbon Mast, Problems

by John May 18, 2006
Slot in mast butt set to vertical with spreaders as set by GMT

Okay, this is a big one and to fully understand it will take you a lot of reading. But, if you are contemplating a major custom project, such as a new mast or even a new boat, the time expended here may save you a lot of money and aggravation.

Fore Triangle Sail Area

by John May 18, 2006

Question: What is your thinking on how sail area should be positioned between the fore triangle and mainsail on short handed cruising boats?

How Much Sail Area

by John May 18, 2006

Question: How much sail area do you think an offshore boat should have for a given weight?

Reefing System Friction

by John May 18, 2006

Question: I have a Hunter 40.5 with a single line reefing system which has more friction in it than a shooting star. What can I do to decrease the friction?

Securing The Tack

by John May 18, 2006

Question: How do you secure the tack of the mainsail on Morgan’s Cloud—do you have the conventional horns, or do you have a two-line reefing system?

Dealing With The Bunt

by John May 18, 2006

Question: When slab reefing, how do you deal with all of the excess sail when you bring the sail down to the third reef, under real hard-wind conditions?

Single-Line Reefing

by John May 18, 2006

Question: Would you contemplate a single-line reefing system on a 667sqft sail?

Reefing System Tension

by John June 18, 2006

Question: With your slab reefing system, do all your clew reefing lines enter the boom at the aft end and, if so, how do you get proper tension along the leech and foot, particularly on the last reef?

Dead End Reefing System

by John July 18, 2006

Question: With your slab reefing system, does the last reef line not crush the bunt of sail accumulated from the previous reefs?

Rod Rigging

by John May 18, 2007

Question: Our Swan 51 is at Morris Yachts for a mini refit this winter and my plan, in addition to everything else, is to start to replace some of the existing rod rigging. It turns out that the rod is 24 years old. Navtec says it should be replaced every 11 years or 30,000 miles. [...]

Staysail Stay: Roller Furling And Fixed Versus Hanks And Removable

by John April 18, 2008
Aluminum expedition sailboat Morgan's Cloud underway in front of an iceberg and mountain at Uummannaq, West Greenland.

Question: I’m refining the deck layout on the 41′ voyaging boat I’m fitting out from bare hull. She will be sailed as a sloop, but fitted with an inner forestay for heavy weather. I am currently weighing the benefits of keeping that sail on a furling unit versus hanking it on to a removable stay. [...]

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