DECK AND RIG GEAR

Nowadays it is possible to source a great variety of deck and rig fittings for classic boats. While many of those are available as off-the-shelf items, almost anything can be custom-made if you know where to look. With regard to materials, the more traditional classic boat owners will probably favour bronze, brass or galvanised (or a finish visually resembling one of those), while others will be happy with stainless-steel or chrome plating.

WINCHES

Various makes of bronze and chrome plated winches – self-tailing and non-self-tailing - are readily available from several manufacturers, including British company Lewmar, Harken and Antal (both Italian), Hutton-Arco (Australian), Murray (made by White Star Products in New Zealand), Wilmex (Polish) and Classic Winch Company (based in the Netherlands).

The purist may not like the fact that the bronze winches produced by some of these companies are not visibly not completely bronze, typically having the central drive shaft – the top of which, where the handle is inserted, is visible – in chrome or stainless-steel; while Harken winches have an incongruous red line between the drum and base (although this, apparently, is a cosmetic finishing piece that is easily removed). Lewmar winches are completely bronze in appearance with the exception of the barely-noticeable dark coloured plastic rope-friendly self-tailing