Stuff That Works, Rigging & Sails
Index
Frederiksen Mainsail Car System
Harken Fittings
Laminated Spectra Sailcloth
Maloney Marine Rigging
Navtec Hydraulics
Spartite Mast Chocks
Waterboot Mast Boots
Frederiksen Mainsail Car System
www.ronstan.dk
Morgan’s
Cloud’s mainsail is big at 600sqft and has full length battens. The
Frederiksen 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
unreef without turning up into the wind. Much safer, and you don’t get
wet!
Back to Index
Harken Fittings
www.harken.com
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 a reasonable price, making it as good as new.
Most companies would have told us to buy a new one. They have done a couple
of small customization jobs for us cheerfully and efficiently. A great
company!
Back to Index
Laminated Spectra Sailcloth
www.dimension-polyant.com and www.hallettcanvasandsails.com
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 due to a cloth manufacturing problem. Dimension
replaced them, no question, no arguments.
Back to Index
Maloney Marine Rigging
www.maloneymarinerigging.com
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 would trust to do the job right without
us having to look over his shoulder. We have called on Jay for our rigging
needs for many years now and have always found his work to be extraordinary.
Back to Index
Navtec Hydraulics
www.navtec.net and www.maloneymarinerigging.com
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.
But over the years we have come to appreciate the convenience and ease
of use of our hydraulic rigging system with its cockpit mounted control
panel.
We do believe that a key requirement for reliability
with these systems is getting them serviced regularly by someone who really
knows what they are doing. Jay Maloney of Maloney Marine Rigging gives
our system a good going over every five years.
Back to Index
Spartite Mast Chocks
www.spartite.com
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.
Back to Index
Waterboot Mast Boots
www.waterboot.com
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 partners.
Back to Index