The Case for Carbon Rigging
High-tech materials are no longer reserved for Pro teams.
All sailors can benefit from the weight-savings, righting-moment/pitching, and performance of solid carbon rigging while enjoying the durability and reliability of composite materials. When stacked up against alternative rigging options, LS Carbon wins. LS Carbon rigging packs a lot of power in a small package: the lowest stretch, longest lifespan, and smallest weight-size ratio, makes it a sleek but sturdy product.
Invest in rigging that lasts as long as your mast.
A carbon fiber rig deserves carbon fiber rigging. Race boats and more performance cruisers are choosing carbon fiber for spars, why not also carbon fiber rigging? Life expectancy on LS Carbon is 15+ years, and overall cost of ownership beats alternatives like rod and PBO.
WEIGHT SAVINGS
Average 75% weight savings from metal rigging alternatives.
RIGHTING MOMENT
Less weight aloft means more righting moment from your keel.
DURABILITY
Lasts 3x longer than metal rigging. No corrosion, fatigue or degradation.
LOW STRETCH
Best stiffness (EA) for rigging cable's size and weight compared to alternatives.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY
Unlike textiles, carbon has no stretch or movement by environmental factor.
VALUE
Over double the lifespan of rod or PBO, but priced in line, LS Carbon provides the best performance and financial value.
BEST VALUED RIGGING.
Value is determined by investment over the lifespan, and LS Carbon offers the best rigging value. LS Carbon is the most affordable carbon rigging option on the market due to low maintenance, ease of shipping, installation, and ownership.
BEST MATERIAL, PERIOD.
Carbon Fiber has the best dimensional stability and performance of all rigging material options. Unlike textiles, carbon has virtually no stretch or movement by environmental factor. LS Carbon is constructed with a uniform load path structure of a single, continuously wound fiber thread to create an innovative carbon cable that is solid, yet flexible.
THE LIGHT SPEED DIFFERENCE
Our raw carbon fiber materials come from industry-leader Toray. T-800S Carbon fiber is an intermediate modulus grade fibers, providing the best combination of tensile strength and durability for the task.
LS Carbon is a solid carbon cable manufactured by sling wounding unidirectional carbon fibers, covered with Aramid braiding and Technora hoop fibers specifically used superior abrasion resistance. The final urethane UV resident clear coat, finished the build process. The cables are tough and flexible, for easy coiling for transport.
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Carbon fiber rigging is our craft. Our finishing work showcases the modern elegance of carbon fiber. LS Carbon cables are sleek and smooth with a jet-black carbon finish that can be visibly inspected. The cables are flexible, which allow them to conform to the rig geometry, without the need for a complicated angle build procedure.
Titanium terminals complement our high-tech carbon rigging. These terminals are manufactured from a grade 5 titanium that is light-weight, strong, and corrosion resistant. LS uses Nitronic 50 Stainless Steel for stemballs and aluminum bronze threaded inserts, providing the best transition from carbon to the metallic mast fittings.
LS Carbon is our principal product line, which can be engineered to match any EA (elastic elongation) requirement. Our terminals are customized to fit any mast/deck attachment requirement.
We are currently manufacturing solid carbon fiber standing rigging and structural cables, both flexible and semi rigid, which can be profiled for superior aerodynamics. Light Speed Rigging currently builds cables from 750kg (1,653lb) up to 42,500kg (93,700lb) break loads.