Sail, Rope and Rigging

At the 2011 METS boating industry show, SAIL discovered a French-made product called the “Constrictor,” which we recognized with a Pittman Innovation Award in 2012.

A common problem with continuous-line furlers is, well, all that line. Enter the Seldén Double Fairlead, which functions much like the fairleads long used with conventional furling lines.

Spinlock’s new XTR Reactor Clutch is engineered specifically for today’s small-diameter lines, not only hanging onto them better, but releasing them under better control as well.

Following up on its MX solid halyard shackle, Wichard has created what it calls its MXL soft block for use in a variety of applications.

Low friction rings from Schaefer can be used in a wide range of applications aboard both racers and cruisers, including vangs, backstay adjusters and in-haulers.

The Forespar Tri-Reacher is a three-piece telescoping whisker pole ideally suited for poling out gennakers and other headsails, allowing for deeper sailing angles.

MLX double-braid cordage features a blended high-modulus Innegra-S and Dyneema core for strength and a polyester cover for durability. The result is a lightweight affordable rope with high strength and low stretch.

Admiral Marine Equipment has come up with a novel way to wrestle in an unruly genoa. Its Rollmaster continuous-line headsail furler incorporates a 3:1 reduction gear that requires far less muscle.

The advent of soft attachments and robust polymers has sparked a “Golden Age” of snatch blocks, with gear like the new Dynblock from European manufacturer Antal making life afloat easier than ever.

In 2011, SAIL gave a Pittman Innovation Award to Yale Cordage for its Ph.D. rope, which the company manufactures from high-modulus Spectra fibers. Now the company is offering a lower-priced polyester version of the line.